NEIL EDWARDS FROM WEYMOUTH SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND EXTREME IMAGES

In March 2012, Neil Edwards, a resident of Weymouth, was formally sentenced to serve time in prison after being found guilty of possessing and creating a significant number of indecent images of children, as well as extreme pornography. The case drew considerable attention due to the severity and nature of the crimes committed by Edwards, who was 52 years old at the time.

Neil Edwards, residing on Dawlish Crescent in Weymouth, faced multiple charges related to the possession and distribution of illicit images. Specifically, he admitted to 17 counts of making indecent photographs or images of children, eight counts of possessing such images, and three counts involving extreme pornography. The court heard that Edwards had downloaded nearly 2,000 images, including one depicting a baby, which underscored the disturbing nature of his offenses.

The investigation was initiated after an incident on October 27, 2010, when Edwards took his computer to a local repair shop in Weymouth to resolve a virus issue. During the repair process, the technician discovered that Edwards had visited numerous child pornography sites. This discovery prompted the technician to report the matter to the police, leading to a detailed investigation.

Law enforcement officials subsequently examined Edwards' computer and uncovered a vast collection of illicit images. The images were categorized based on their severity, with the police finding 1,276 images classified as grade one, 68 as grade two, 196 as grade three, 318 as grade four, 18 as grade five, and seven as grade seven. In addition to static images, officers also discovered moving images, including six grade one, 14 grade two, 15 grade four, and eight grade seven videos. The grading system used by authorities ranges from one to five for images of children, with five being the most severe, and from six to eight for extreme pornography, with eight indicating the most serious offenses.

During the court proceedings, Jennifer Rickman, the prosecutor, detailed the findings and emphasized the gravity of Edwards' actions. In mitigation, Edwards' defense attorney, Anne Brown, highlighted his cooperation with police from the outset and expressed remorse for his conduct. Brown also noted that Edwards was a supportive partner to someone with muscular dystrophy and worked as a geologist on an oil rig in Holland. She further mentioned his involvement in a scale modeling club, painting a picture of a man with otherwise positive attributes.

Judge Roger Jarvis addressed Edwards directly, condemning his actions and emphasizing the harm caused to the victims depicted in the images. The judge pointed out that at least one image involved a baby, underscoring the heinous nature of the crimes. He stated, “The activities of yours are the result of abuse of young children, and this court can do nothing for the subjects of those images.” The judge also warned that Edwards' desire for “fresh titillation” could lead to further abuse, as the demand for new material fuels the cycle of exploitation.

In sentencing, Edwards received a prison term of 30 weeks for the possession of images graded four and five, as well as for the extreme pornography. Additionally, he was given a concurrent sentence of 10 weeks for the other images. Edwards was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and to comply with strict sex offender provisions during that period. Furthermore, all of Edwards' computer equipment was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed to prevent further misuse.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, and the serious consequences faced by those found guilty of such offenses.