CAN SEE THE ANGUISH OF OPPOSING PERVERTS NICHOLAS LORIMER/JOHN CONNER JAILED IN CANTERBURY

In March 2014, Nicholas Lorimer, also known as John Conner, was sentenced for possessing a disturbing collection of over 7,000 sexual abuse images and 700 video clips obtained over six years. The 30-year-old, who had aspired to be a teacher, had gained placements at local schools where he secretly took photographs of children. The police raided his home on Shalloak Road, Broad Oak, Canterbury, uncovering the extensive and obscene array of material.

Among the shocking images were 19 involving bestiality and sex acts with deceased individuals on mortuary slabs. Other images depicted dead or mutilated children, and one showed a newborn girl being strangled until her face turned blue, with many more too distressing to detail.

During the trial at Canterbury Crown Court, a detective who had viewed the images described them as the most depraved he had ever encountered and stated he would not look at them again to avoid revulsion.

Lorimer, who later changed his name to John Conner and moved to High Street, Herne Bay, displayed signs of distress during the hearing. Dressed in a suit, he sat in the dock rubbing his face, hyperventilating, and rocking back and forth, seemingly unaware of the proceedings. The judge, Heather Norton, grew concerned about his state and allowed him to go to the cells during sentencing, though he continued to rock.

Lorimer’s lawyer, Mark Fraser, defended him by revealing that he had suffered childhood trauma which led to self-harm, including wrist-slashing. It was also disclosed that he was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome later in life, which contributed to depression and an unhealthy interest in pornography.

Despite his criminal behavior, Lorimer achieved a 2:2 degree at the University of Kent, where he developed a keen interest in teaching. He secured placements at Canterbury schools, during which he secretly took and stored illicit images.

Mr. Fraser emphasized Lorimer's vulnerable mental state, asserting that he posed a risk if incarcerated.

Judge Norton acknowledged Lorimer’s evident distress and detailed his disturbing sexual interests, which included a preference for images of pre-pubescent girls around 12 years old and scenes depicting children in distress or suffering violence. She also noted that Lorimer had joined a file-sharing website called LoveGun to exchange and seek advice on accessing such material.

While training as a teacher, Lorimer pretended to be a 14-year-old boy online to coerce a nine-year-old girl into undressing in front of a webcam.

The judge expressed particular concern that Lorimer actively sought to become a teacher while collecting these images, with police discovering he had been taking covert pictures on his mobile phone in schools just months before his arrest.

Concluding her remarks, Judge Norton stated that she recognized Lorimer’s need for help but emphasized her duty to punish and deter others. As Lorimer was led away to serve a two-year sentence, the judge instructed staff to inform prison authorities of his vulnerable mental state.