NIGEL PHILLIMORE CAUGHT IN GOSPORT WITH HUNDREDS OF INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN

In April 2016, a pensioner from Gosport was spared imprisonment after admitting to possessing and creating numerous indecent images of children. The case came to light when police executed a raid on his residence in Gosport, leading to the arrest of Nigel Phillimore, who was 69 years old at the time.

Authorities had been tracking users of file-sharing websites, which ultimately led them to Phillimore’s home. During the investigation, officers discovered that he had been involved in the distribution and possession of illicit material involving minors. At the time of his arrest, Phillimore was residing at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

Legal proceedings revealed that Phillimore was considered to pose a low risk of reoffending, a factor that influenced the court’s decision. He faced multiple charges, including one count of possession of indecent images and three counts of making such images. The court heard that he suffered from clinical depression, which was taken into account during sentencing.

Judge Claudia Ackner, presiding over the case at Portsmouth Crown Court, emphasized the gravity of the offences despite the defendant’s mental health issues. She stated, “These offences nevertheless play a part in the abuse of young children by providing the market for those who directly exploit their vulnerability.”

As a result, Phillimore was sentenced to a 12-month prison term, but this was suspended for 18 months, contingent upon his participation in rehabilitation activities. The prosecution, led by James Kellam, detailed the extent of the illicit material found. Phillimore possessed 131 images classified as Category A, which is the most severe, along with 165 images in Category B, and 414 images in Category C. Additionally, videos rated B and C were also recovered.

During police interviews, Phillimore claimed that he was not seeking the most serious types of images. Despite avoiding immediate jail time, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for a decade and was placed under a sexual harm prevention order for the same period, restricting his activities and monitoring his conduct to prevent further offences.