MARK PATTERSON JAILED FOR DISTRIBUTING GROSSE IMAGES OF CHILDREN IN LEAMINGTON

In November 2014, a disturbing case emerged involving a man from Leamington who was found to possess and distribute highly disturbing and grotesque images depicting children as young as four or five engaged in sexual acts. The individual, identified as Mark Patterson, was sentenced to 28 months in prison after admitting to multiple charges related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

Mark Patterson, aged 44 and residing on Arlington Avenue in Leamington, had a long history of engaging in the illegal activity of downloading indecent images of minors. His actions spanned over five years, during which he accumulated a vast collection of illicit material. The court heard that Patterson pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children and six counts of distributing such images, reflecting the severity and scale of his offenses.

The case came to light after police received credible information regarding Patterson’s online activities. In August of the previous year, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his residence in Leamington. During the search, they confiscated his computer equipment and external storage devices. A thorough examination of these devices revealed an alarming cache of over 6,000 indecent images of children, some as young as four or five years old.

The images found on Patterson’s devices were categorized into different levels of severity. Among them, 208 still photographs and 728 videos were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious content. An additional 268 still images and 460 videos fell into Category B, while 4,177 still images and 204 videos were categorized as Category C. These classifications reflect the disturbing nature of the material, with Category A images being the most grotesque.

Further investigation uncovered evidence that Patterson had used a file-sharing website to both download and distribute these illicit images. Police experts confirmed that he had shared still images and videos across all three categories, thereby contributing to the wider circulation of this harmful material. This act of distribution amplifies the damage, as it facilitates access for other offenders and perpetuates the abuse of the children depicted.

During the sentencing hearing at Warwick Crown Court, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano addressed Patterson directly. She emphasized the gravity of his actions, stating, “About a fifth of the images were moving images of children being sexually abused. They were images you had collected over more than five years. You were downloading them using file-sharing software, and in doing so you made what you were downloading available to others, which spreads this material wider than just yourself.”

The judge also highlighted the profound harm inflicted on the children involved, noting, “They are grotesque images showing children as young as four or five years old. It doesn’t take much to imagine the distress caused to them which will live with them for the rest of their lives. These are real children; they don’t just live on your computer. They are images made for a market, and that market is you. You personally contribute to their abuse by downloading these images – and because there is distribution as well, the starting point is three years.”

Judge de Bertodano pointed out the aggravating factors in the case, including the very young age of the children depicted, the sheer volume of images, and the extended period over which Patterson collected these materials. She also noted that approximately 20% of the images were moving pictures, which are particularly disturbing, and emphasized the distress caused to the children involved. While the distribution was not the most active form, the use of file-sharing software inherently facilitates wider dissemination, making the harm even more extensive.

In addition to his prison sentence, Patterson was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, a measure intended to monitor and prevent further offending. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the proliferation of child exploitation material and the importance of prosecuting individuals involved in such heinous crimes in Leamington and beyond.