MARK SEAGER CHIPPENHAM CRIME: SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR ONLINE CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In November 2018, a man from Chippenham named Mark Seager was handed a suspended sentence after being found in possession of numerous indecent images of children. The case was heard at Swindon Crown Court, where it was revealed that Seager had been involved in online activities that included viewing and sharing material depicting child abuse.

According to the court proceedings, police officers executed a raid on Seager’s residence located on Barley Leaze in Chippenham in August 2017, acting on intelligence that suggested illegal activity. During the investigation, Seager did not deny his involvement and admitted to the authorities that he had been engaging in online chats related to child abuse. When his computers were examined, investigators discovered a total of 60 indecent images of children stored on his devices. These images were categorized into different levels of severity: four images classified as the most serious, six in the middle range, and fifty considered to be the least serious.

Prosecutor Colin Meeke explained that Seager had made full admissions during questioning, clarifying that he had not actively searched for the images but had received them through chat room exchanges. Mr. Meeke highlighted that Seager appeared to be emotionally detached from the reality of the situation, a common trait observed in similar cases, indicating a disconnection from the fact that these images depicted real children being sexually abused. Despite his admissions, Seager’s actions were deemed serious enough to warrant legal proceedings.

Seager, aged 52, pleaded guilty to the charge of making indecent images of children. His defense attorney, Richard Williams, emphasized that Seager was committed to addressing his issues and had sought help for his problems related to this area. Williams also noted that the case had been a source of significant distress for Seager for over a year, describing the situation as a “great fright” for his client.

Judge Jason Taylor QC delivered the sentence, expressing regret that Seager was appearing in court for the first time in his life. The judge acknowledged the circumstances, stating, “Mr. Seager, you are 52 and you find yourself in court for the first time in your life, which is a very sad occasion. You said you had not actually searched for the images but received them during online discussions about sexual abuse.”

As part of his sentence, Seager received four months in prison, suspended for two years, along with a two-year community order. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities. The court also imposed a sexual harm prevention order to restrict his liberty and mandated that he register as a sex offender for a period of seven years, reflecting the seriousness of his actions and the ongoing risk to the community.