MICHAEL BECKLEY SENTENCED IN MARCHWOOD FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS

In December 2001, a serious case involving a bus driver from Waterside drew significant attention from local authorities and the community. Michael Beckley, aged 32 and residing on Evergreen Close in Marchwood, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after being found guilty of multiple charges related to the abuse of young girls.

Beckley faced four counts of indecent assault, which he admitted, involving two young girls. Additionally, he requested that a further charge concerning the possession of indecent material be taken into account during sentencing. The incidents reportedly occurred within a residence in Hampshire, where the victims were known to him.

Prosecutor Barnaby Shaw outlined the details of the case at Southampton Crown Court, revealing that on one occasion, Beckley was observed touching one of the girls in the reflection of a computer screen. This disturbing detail underscored the nature of the offenses and Beckley's inappropriate conduct towards minors.

Following Beckley's arrest, police conducted a search of his belongings and recovered approximately a dozen images depicting naked girls from a CD-ROM stored on his computer. The material was not solely of minors; it also included images of adults, which added complexity to the case.

During the court proceedings, Beckley's defense attorney, Fiona Horlick, emphasized that her client did not use force or threats against the victims. She explained that Beckley did not download the images from the internet but had been given the CD-ROM, which contained a mixture of images involving both children and adults. Horlick stated, “He cannot explain why he committed these offences. He wants treatment to deal with it and put this behind him so he won’t commit these offences again.”

Horlick also noted that Beckley had been held on remand at Winchester Prison and had expressed a desire to participate in a treatment program aimed at addressing his behavior. She added, “He is very realistic about his sentence today. These offences are at the bottom end of the scale and he feels genuine remorse for his victims.”

Judge Griffiths, presiding over the case, sentenced Beckley to 30 months in prison and ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. The judge highlighted concerns about Beckley's apparent attraction to young girls and his potential threat to their safety, emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses and the importance of community protection.