PAUL WILSON FROM BERKHAMSTED SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE MOVIES

In a case that has shocked the community of Berkhamsted, Paul Wilson, a 36-year-old man residing on Ridgeway, was found in possession of illicit child sex abuse movies. The authorities uncovered two USB sticks during a police raid at his home on November 3rd of the previous year. These devices contained a total of 15 films classified at the most serious levels of indecency, including seven movies categorized as Category B and another seven as Category C. Wilson claimed to police that his interest in these films was driven solely by 'curiosity,' a justification that did little to mitigate the severity of his actions.

According to prosecutor Peter Shaw, when police arrived at Wilson’s residence in Berkhamsted, his girlfriend answered the door. Wilson was upstairs at the time and initially denied any involvement with accessing indecent images. However, once his girlfriend was no longer present, he admitted to searching for 'teen porn.' The USB sticks, which were seized from a rucksack, were examined and confirmed to contain the illegal content. Wilson’s explanation to the authorities was that he viewed the movies 'out of morbid curiosity,' a statement that did little to sway the court.

Wilson, who had previously lived on Ridgeway in Berkhamsted, appeared in court to face sentencing after pleading guilty to three counts of making (downloading) indecent images of children. His criminal record also includes a prior conviction for a drink-driving offence in 2001. During the proceedings, his defense lawyer, Mark Kelly, highlighted that Wilson had only accessed the illicit material on a single occasion. Kelly also noted that Wilson’s partner was standing by him and that the arrest and subsequent charges had caused him significant stress, resulting in the loss of his employment.

Judge Richard Foster addressed Wilson directly, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. He stated, “You now understand these are not victimless crimes. When people like you access child pornography, you are creating a market. The children involved are real people, subjected to sexual acts for the perverted satisfaction of individuals like you.”

As part of his sentence, Wilson was handed an eight-month jail term, suspended for 12 months. Additionally, he is required to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and participate in a 60-hour rehabilitation program. The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the USB sticks and mandated that Wilson adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Furthermore, he is required to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, underscoring the serious consequences of his criminal conduct.