MICHAEL KEHOE FROM MORPETH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE IN NEWCASTLE

In a case that has shocked the academic community and residents of Morpeth, Michael Kehoe, a respected professor from Newcastle University, was found guilty of possessing child pornography but narrowly avoided a prison sentence. The incident came to light after police executed a search warrant at Kehoe's residence in Old Byre, Morpeth, in April of the previous year. During the raid, authorities discovered more than 200 indecent images of children stored on his personal computer, raising serious concerns about his conduct.

Kehoe, aged 56, who specialized in microbiology and was affiliated with the university’s Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, faced the court with a mixture of remorse and regret. Despite the gravity of the evidence, he was sentenced to a three-year community order and was placed on the sex offenders register for a period of five years. The court's decision reflected a nuanced approach, considering his professional reputation and personal circumstances.

The police investigation revealed that the images found on Kehoe’s computer were graded from 1 to 5, with grade 5 representing the most severe and offensive material. Of the 232 images recovered, 22 were classified as level four, indicating a high degree of seriousness. These images had been downloaded and subsequently deleted over a span of 14 months, suggesting a period of ongoing activity rather than a one-time incident.

At the time of his arrest, Kehoe was employed at Newcastle University but was suspended from his duties following the discovery. The court heard that he was considered one of the leading experts in his field globally, with his research credited with saving numerous lives. His wife of 29 years, along with colleagues from the academic community, attended the hearing, reflecting the personal and professional impact of the case.

Earlier proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court saw Kehoe admit to four charges of making indecent images of children. Prosecutor Paul Rowland described Kehoe as being cooperative during police interviews, stating, “Mr Kehoe was extremely candid with interviewing officers, extremely co-operative and accepted he had downloaded these images over a period of time.” However, he also noted that Kehoe was somewhat vague about his motives, which the court interpreted as a sign of his internal conflict.

The court was informed that Kehoe was experiencing significant personal distress at the time, struggling to cope with the recent death of his mother. His brother was also gravely ill during this period and later passed away, factors that the judge acknowledged as contributing to his state of mind.

Judge Brian Forster QC expressed understanding of Kehoe’s remorse, stating, “I accept that you are fully remorseful for your offending. I am quite satisfied that you acted out of character because of the pressure you came under at the time.” Despite the seriousness of the charges, the judge opted for a community-based sentence rather than imprisonment. Additionally, Kehoe was ordered to pay £1,200 in prosecution costs.

Following the court’s decision, Newcastle University confirmed that disciplinary measures would be taken against Kehoe, reflecting the institution’s stance on maintaining integrity and safeguarding its reputation amidst the controversy.