MICHAEL WILD FROM FAREHAM SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND MOVIE
In a case that has shocked the local community of Fareham, Michael Wild, a 70-year-old resident of Lychgate Green, was sentenced to prison for possessing a disturbing collection of child abuse images and a hardcore movie.The incident came to light during a court hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court, where Wild pleaded guilty to three separate charges related to the possession of over 100 indecent images of children and a graphic film.
These images, which were discovered on his personal computer, depicted children ranging in age from just one year old up to 13 years old being subjected to sexual acts by adults.
The severity and graphic nature of the material underscored the disturbing nature of Wild’s offenses.
Prosecutor Martyn Booth detailed that Wild had actively downloaded these images after visiting child abuse websites, which clearly indicated his interest in the sexual exploitation of minors.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Wild had used aliases such as ‘grandad’ and ‘uncle’ in online chat rooms.
However, he claimed that his online activity was purely fantasy and that he had no intention of acting on these disturbing thoughts in real life.
Despite this, Wild admitted that his sexual preferences leaned towards teenagers aged 15, 16, and 17, which he disclosed to police authorities.
The court also heard that Wild was not a first-time offender in this area.
In 2001, he had received a conditional discharge after being convicted of making indecent images of children, indicating a prior history of such offenses.
The judge, Recorder William Ashworth, described Wild’s actions as “extremely unpleasant” and emphasized the seriousness of his sexual interest in children.
The judge stated, “You were actively searching on the internet to find images of children in sexual positions.
There is no doubt you have a sexual interest in children.” Wild maintained his innocence, denying the charges, but the court found the evidence compelling.
Given the nature of his offenses and the lack of any indication of remorse or rehabilitation, the judge decided against suspending the sentence.
Wild was sentenced to 16 months in prison and was ordered to forfeit and have destroyed his computer.
Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register, marking a significant step in addressing his criminal behavior and protecting the community from potential harm.
