LEWIS HARRIS FROM FAVERSHAM ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE VIEWING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN MAIDSTONE

In a case that has shocked the community of Faversham, Lewis Harris, aged 25, was brought before Maidstone Crown Court in July 2011 to face serious allegations related to the possession and viewing of indecent images of children. Harris, who resides on Abbey Fields, appeared in court to admit to browsing a website that served as a meeting point for individuals with sexual interests in minors, a revelation that has raised concerns about online safety and the exploitation of children.

The investigation into Harris’s activities was initiated in 2007 when police executed a raid on his family home in Faversham. During the search, authorities discovered a total of 49 indecent images of children stored on his computer. These images were classified into various categories, with 43 of them graded at level one, indicating the least severe form of indecency, while three were classified at level four, and three at the most severe level five. The photographs depicted children aged between eight and 12 years old, highlighting the disturbing nature of the material Harris had been viewing.

During police interviews, Harris openly admitted to viewing these images, claiming that his intent was to 'satisfy his curiosity.' He further explained that he viewed 11-year-old girls as 'young women,' a statement that underscores his distorted perception of minors. Harris also confessed to watching pornography involving young people aged 11 to 18, acknowledging that he was aware of the sickening nature of his interests. He expressed remorse, stating that he recognized his behavior as a sign of his own sickness because he liked girls of that age.

The court heard that Harris’s engagement with this material was brief, occurring mainly in 2007 when he was described as 'emotionally immature.' During this period, he retreated into the online world, subscribing to an internet chat room where he discussed and commented on the images he viewed. Importantly, he did not distribute the images to others, but his online activity was still considered a serious offense.

Harris described feeling a 'compulsion' to view the images, yet he also expressed feelings of disgust, shame, and embarrassment about his actions. His behavior was characterized by the judge as 'an episode by an immature young man satisfying his curiosity,' a description that attempts to contextualize the offense within his personal development.

In sentencing Harris, Judge Andrew Goymer emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating, 'To many people, it is just an image on a computer screen, but it is real. Every time one of those images is produced, somewhere in this world, a child is being abused or violated in some way.' The judge highlighted the importance of deterrence, asserting that the court's role is to make individuals understand that such actions will lead to punishment.

As part of his sentence, Harris was ordered to complete a three-year community order, which includes supervision and participation in a Thames Valley sex offenders' program. Additionally, a sexual offences prevention order was imposed, restricting Harris from using a computer without the ability to show his browsing history, which must be accessible to police inspection upon request. Harris is also prohibited from having unsupervised contact with girls under 16, and his name will be added to the sex offenders' register for five years. Furthermore, he was ordered to pay costs of £250 and forfeit his computer hard drive, removing the evidence of his offending from his possession.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and highlights the importance of monitoring internet activity to protect vulnerable children from harm.