MICHAEL LEWIS FROM NORTHAMPTON JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES AND FILMING

In April 2012, a disturbing case emerged involving Michael Lewis, a man with a troubling history of sexual offences against children, who was caught in the act of filming young children in Northampton. The incident was brought to light after concerned neighbors, alarmed by suspicious activity, reported their suspicions to the police. Their concerns proved to be well-founded when law enforcement officials responded to the reports and uncovered a disturbing collection of illegal material on Lewis's computer.

Michael Lewis, aged 51 at the time, was observed using a camcorder to record children playing in a street within Northampton. The police, acting on the tip-off, apprehended Lewis on April 4 of the previous year. During the subsequent investigation, officers seized two computers from his residence and conducted a thorough examination. The findings were shocking: the devices contained a total of 8,700 indecent images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Among these were 126 images and 12 videos classified as among the most serious category, showing adults engaging in sexual acts with children, which had been downloaded from the internet.

Further investigation revealed that Lewis had a prior criminal record for sexual offences involving minors. He had been released from prison not long before the incident, having served time for sexual assaults committed against children under the age of 13. His criminal history includes a conviction at Birmingham Crown Court in December 2006, where he was sentenced to four years in prison. Following his release, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and was still under license at the time of his latest arrest. Additionally, he was prohibited from accessing the internet, a restriction meant to prevent further offences.

Lewis, who was identified as a self-confessed paedophile, pleaded guilty to 13 charges related to making and possessing indecent images of children. His guilty plea led to a sentencing at Northampton Crown Court, where Judge Sylvia de Bertodano sentenced him to three years in prison. The judge also imposed an indefinite sexual offences’ prevention order (SOPO), designed to restrict his access to children and prevent him from reoffending.

In her remarks, Judge de Bertodano emphasized the severity of Lewis’s crimes, stating, “These, as you know, are very serious offences. The images clearly show the very real situation of girls as young as three or four being criminally exploited, raped, and sexually abused, which the vast majority of the general public would find horrifying. Were it not for this market of exploitation, this would not be happening on a massive scale. By downloading these images, you are making a significant contribution to the abuse of children. I have no doubt whatsoever, you pose a significant risk of serious harm to children by the commission of further offences against them, and from what I have read and heard about you, you agree with that analysis.”

Steven Evans, representing Lewis, acknowledged his client’s admitted sexual predilection towards children. He stated, “There’s very little I can say about the offences because he made full admissions when interviewed. If he could take tablets or have an injection to stop it, he would. He knows he is going to prison and he knows children need to be protected.”

Overall, the case highlights the ongoing dangers posed by individuals like Michael Lewis, whose criminal activities continue to threaten the safety and well-being of children in Northampton and beyond.