MICHAEL ST CLAIR FROM PAULTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN BRISTOL
| Red Rose Database
Paulton Child Sexual Abuser
In March 2017, a man from Paulton named Michael St Clair was handed a significant sentence after being found guilty of possessing and creating a large number of indecent images of children. The case, which was heard at Bristol Crown Court, revealed disturbing details about St Clair's activities and his long-standing interest in illegal sexual content involving minors.
St Clair, aged 58 at the time, admitted to producing 21 images and four videos that were classified as Category A, the most severe classification for such material. In addition to these, he also possessed 69 indecent photographs and a video categorized as Category B, along with 87 images falling into Category C. The evidence against him was collected after police executed a search warrant at his residence on Farrington Road in December 2015. During the search, authorities seized a desktop computer, a laptop, and a USB stick, all of which contained the illicit material.
Prosecutor Alistair Haggerty detailed the nature of the images, stating that they predominantly depicted girls aged between 9 and 11 years old. Alarmingly, some images included children as young as one year old. The investigation also uncovered searches for children as young as four on certain websites, highlighting the disturbing extent of St Clair's online activity.
When questioned by police in July of the same year, St Clair reportedly admitted that he preferred images showing children engaged in sexual acts with adults. He explained that he had been experiencing marital problems and acknowledged that he enjoyed viewing such images. According to the prosecutor, St Clair admitted to downloading a few images and videos weekly, recognizing that his actions were wrong but expressing a desire to seek help.
St Clair's legal journey culminated in a plea of guilty at Bath Magistrates Court on February 8, where he faced three charges. The case was subsequently transferred to Bristol Crown Court for sentencing. During the hearing on March 9, Judge Mr Recorder Vere-Hodge QC described the case as unusual due to the defendant's long-standing and deeply rooted interest in sexual activity involving underage girls.
The judge acknowledged St Clair's early guilty plea but emphasized the seriousness of his actions. He pointed out that St Clair had been candid about his attraction to underage girls and how this had been reinforced through his viewing of pornography. The judge highlighted that each of the images, especially those classified as Category A, represented real victims who had been abused and coerced. The court underscored that the existence of a market for such material fuels the trade and that individuals like St Clair are complicit in perpetuating this cycle of abuse.
Furthermore, the judge referenced St Clair's previous convictions, noting that his last conviction in 1987 involved touching two young girls in a sexual manner. This history added to the court's concern about his ongoing predilections.
As part of his sentence, St Clair was given a three-year community order for each of the three charges, along with a requirement to participate in rehabilitation activities for 25 days and attend an accredited sexual offending program for 60 days. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed, which will remain in effect until further notice. St Clair was also instructed to sign the sex offenders' register, a requirement that will be in place for five years, reflecting the court's recognition of the ongoing risk he poses.
St Clair, aged 58 at the time, admitted to producing 21 images and four videos that were classified as Category A, the most severe classification for such material. In addition to these, he also possessed 69 indecent photographs and a video categorized as Category B, along with 87 images falling into Category C. The evidence against him was collected after police executed a search warrant at his residence on Farrington Road in December 2015. During the search, authorities seized a desktop computer, a laptop, and a USB stick, all of which contained the illicit material.
Prosecutor Alistair Haggerty detailed the nature of the images, stating that they predominantly depicted girls aged between 9 and 11 years old. Alarmingly, some images included children as young as one year old. The investigation also uncovered searches for children as young as four on certain websites, highlighting the disturbing extent of St Clair's online activity.
When questioned by police in July of the same year, St Clair reportedly admitted that he preferred images showing children engaged in sexual acts with adults. He explained that he had been experiencing marital problems and acknowledged that he enjoyed viewing such images. According to the prosecutor, St Clair admitted to downloading a few images and videos weekly, recognizing that his actions were wrong but expressing a desire to seek help.
St Clair's legal journey culminated in a plea of guilty at Bath Magistrates Court on February 8, where he faced three charges. The case was subsequently transferred to Bristol Crown Court for sentencing. During the hearing on March 9, Judge Mr Recorder Vere-Hodge QC described the case as unusual due to the defendant's long-standing and deeply rooted interest in sexual activity involving underage girls.
The judge acknowledged St Clair's early guilty plea but emphasized the seriousness of his actions. He pointed out that St Clair had been candid about his attraction to underage girls and how this had been reinforced through his viewing of pornography. The judge highlighted that each of the images, especially those classified as Category A, represented real victims who had been abused and coerced. The court underscored that the existence of a market for such material fuels the trade and that individuals like St Clair are complicit in perpetuating this cycle of abuse.
Furthermore, the judge referenced St Clair's previous convictions, noting that his last conviction in 1987 involved touching two young girls in a sexual manner. This history added to the court's concern about his ongoing predilections.
As part of his sentence, St Clair was given a three-year community order for each of the three charges, along with a requirement to participate in rehabilitation activities for 25 days and attend an accredited sexual offending program for 60 days. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed, which will remain in effect until further notice. St Clair was also instructed to sign the sex offenders' register, a requirement that will be in place for five years, reflecting the court's recognition of the ongoing risk he poses.