PAUL WRIGHT OF CANTERBURY JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENDING AND OBTAINING CHILD SEX IMAGES

In May 2014, Paul Wright, a convicted sex offender from Canterbury, was sentenced to three years in prison after establishing a photography business to attract children with aspirations of entertainment fame. Wright promoted his enterprise, One Touch Photography, on Facebook, including a link to a reputable website offering services for aspiring young stars. Parents who authorized him to conduct photo sessions at their homes were unaware that Wright had previously served time for downloading obscene images of children.

At Canterbury Crown Court, Judge James O’Mahony sentenced Wright, 46, of Nunnery Fields, who pleaded guilty to seven charges, including breaching a Sex Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), downloading child sex images, and referencing a story involving the rape of a six-month-old victim. The judge commented, “You flagrantly breached the court orders which were designed to protect children. You were advertising, attracting children who, no doubt, in these days of celebrities, thought, ‘I’m going to be famous, perhaps,’ and that was the way you started taking their photographs. Although I accept there is no evidence you did anything that was physical.”

Prosecutor Robert De Banzie explained that police were tipped off about Wright’s Facebook advertising through his photography profile, leading to a raid on his home. Wright, who has links to Deal and Dover, had previously served a 20-week sentence in July 2011 after admitting eight charges involving possession and creation of child sexual abuse images. During the investigation, it was found that Wright had limited access to a computer due to restrictions and was banned from jobs granting him unrestricted access to children.

It was revealed that Wright’s website displayed ten images of children he had taken himself, and authorities seized his mobile phone and laptop. Police also uncovered that he had downloaded material from a sex site promoting “child erotica,” including a story describing the rape of a six-month-old. Investigators discovered that Wright’s online activity included nearly 3,000 images and videos up to level two severity on a five-tier scale. Wright admitted to police that he had taken photographs of children at his residence or rented studios, asserting that parents were always present during sessions and denying ever being alone with any child.

He also denied reading the sex story, claiming he fell asleep before finishing it, and insisted he had no sexual interest in children. Defense barrister Ben Walker-Nolan stated that Wright had sold his camera equipment and did not plan to pursue photography again. Additionally, Wright had fallen ill with a suspected heart attack after visiting his mother on the Isle of Wight.

Following his conviction, Wright was handed a new seven-year SOPO, restricting his activities further.