NICOLA FLORIDA FROM WELLS CAUGHT TRYING TO DEVELOP CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AT LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SHOP

In November 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Nicola Florida, a transgender woman residing in Wells, who was found attempting to develop explicit photographs of a naked 10-year-old girl. The incident drew significant attention due to Florida's criminal history and the serious nature of her latest offense.

Florida, aged 50 and living on Johnsons Close in Wells, had previously served a lengthy prison sentence for convictions related to sexual assaults, rapes of children, and possession of indecent images. Her criminal record was well-known, and her release from incarceration did not mark the end of her legal troubles. After her release, she was living openly as a woman, having changed her name and undergone medical assessments related to gender transition.

The latest incident unfolded when Florida visited DH James Photography in Wells on November 8. She handed over a strip of negatives containing four photographs to a staff member, requesting them to be developed into a 16-inch by 4-inch print. She provided her contact details and agreed to collect the photographs the following day. However, the staff member noticed that the images depicted a young girl, approximately 10 years old, who appeared to be posing naked for the camera. The staff member felt uncomfortable with the content and promptly contacted the police.

Law enforcement officers responded swiftly. They attended Florida’s residence and conducted a thorough search. During the search, they discovered a 35mm camera and additional photographs of a young girl matching the description of those taken to the shop. In the living room, officers found a Kodak film on the windowsill, and in her bedroom, they uncovered a digital camera along with three other cameras stored in drawers. The police also found several photographs of the girl, which were taken after 2001, and a wallet containing other images, some of which were linked to Florida’s previous convictions.

The police investigation revealed that Florida was in possession of multiple cameras, including some that she claimed were no longer functional. Her defense argued that the photographs found were taken before her imprisonment and that she had not intentionally violated the court orders. Her lawyer, Nigel Yeo, explained that Florida had been a semi-professional photographer before her incarceration and that the seized photographs were part of her personal collection, taken prior to her legal issues. He also mentioned that her elderly father had been helping her organize her possessions and that the photographs in question were stored in a box brought to her by her father.

Yeo emphasized that Florida had been compliant with her sex offender notification requirements and had changed her name in 2012 while in prison. He highlighted her ongoing efforts to live as a woman, including medical appointments scheduled at a gender identity clinic in London, where she hoped to begin hormone therapy and eventually undergo gender reassignment surgery. Florida’s mental health was also addressed, as she had been prescribed antidepressants and was living a relatively isolated life.

Despite her efforts at rehabilitation, the magistrates recognized the gravity of her latest offense. They noted that Florida had breached a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) issued by Taunton Crown Court in 2007, which prohibited her from possessing any photographic or recording equipment and from having photographs of children under 16. The magistrates decided that her case was serious enough to warrant a transfer to Taunton Crown Court for sentencing. They adjourned the hearing until December 16, 2016, and released her on unconditional bail pending sentencing.