PATRICK KEAR FROM ALMONDBURY AND WAKEFIELD ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORN CHARGES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Almondbury and Wakefield, Patrick David Kear, aged 31, has narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being found in possession of a significant collection of indecent images of children. Kear, a company director based on Somerset Road in Almondbury, appeared before Dewsbury magistrates to face multiple charges related to the possession and downloading of child pornography.

Earlier, Kear pleaded guilty to 20 separate charges concerning the illegal acquisition of these images from the internet. The investigation uncovered a disturbing collection of over 1,300 indecent photographs stored on his computer and various disks. Among these images, five were classified as level four, indicating a high degree of severity, while the majority fell into the lower categories of level one or two. The photographs depicted children aged between six and 14 years old, some of whom were shown engaging in indecent acts with adult men, further highlighting the disturbing nature of the material.

Following his guilty plea, the magistrates sentenced Kear to a three-year community rehabilitation order, a measure that emphasizes supervision and treatment rather than incarceration. Additionally, he has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of five years and will be required to participate in a specialized treatment program aimed at addressing his offending behavior.

Prosecutor Mr. Stephen Gration revealed that the police discovered the illicit images at Kear’s former residence in Wakefield. The police raid was conducted on December 18, 2002, as part of the larger operation known as Operation Ore, which targeted individuals involved in the distribution and possession of child pornography. The case has drawn significant attention due to the serious nature of the charges and the potential risk posed to children, although Kear’s sentence reflects a judicial decision to focus on rehabilitation and monitoring rather than imprisonment.