PETER CARRUTHERS FROM KEMPSTON CAUGHT VIEWING CHILD PORN ON LIBRARY COMPUTER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Peter Carruthers, a 44-year-old resident of Kempston, was found to have accessed and viewed highly disturbing images of child abuse using a public library computer. The incident occurred in April of this year, and the details were brought to light during a court hearing at Luton Crown Court on Tuesday.

According to court reports, Carruthers had visited Kempston Library on April 13, despite being under a strict sexual offences prevention order that explicitly prohibited him from using the internet at home. The order was put in place due to his previous convictions related to the creation of indecent images of children, which date back to 2002 and 2005. The restrictions were intended to prevent him from accessing online material that could facilitate further offending.

During his visit to the library, Carruthers was observed by staff in an area where other members of the public, including children, were present. Concerned by his activity, the library staff promptly contacted the police. When officers arrived, they found Carruthers sitting in front of a computer screen, engaged in viewing what was described as some of the most shocking and disturbing material available on the internet. The police then arrested him on the spot.

Further investigations revealed that Carruthers had more illicit material stored on a computer at his residence in Bartram Court, High Street, Kempston. A detailed examination of his digital devices, including a memory stick and the computer at his home, uncovered a staggering collection of approximately 5,500 images depicting child sexual abuse. These included still photographs and video clips, some of which were described as among the most disturbing images accessible online.

During the court proceedings, Judge John Bevan QC was informed of Carruthers’ criminal history and the severity of his current offences. The judge condemned Carruthers as ‘incorrigible,’ emphasizing that his entrenched and seemingly incurable desire to view such material posed a significant threat. The judge stated, “You are, in my judgement, incorrigible. You have an entrenched and, at the moment, incurable desire to watch images of boys up to 13 and in one case a baby being abused and corrupted. It is not a victimless crime because you and your like provide a market.”

Defense lawyer Derek Johashen argued that Carruthers was unaware of children being present when he accessed the internet at the library. He also highlighted that Carruthers had been a victim of sexual abuse himself during his youth, which he claimed might explain his involvement in such offending. However, the court was not convinced by these arguments.

Judge Bevan sentenced Carruthers to a total of four and a half years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life and was subjected to a new sexual prevention order that would further restrict his access to the internet. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.

In response to the incident, a spokesperson for Bedford Borough Council stated that all library users must agree to an ‘Acceptable Use Policy’ before accessing the internet on library computers. The council also confirmed that filtering and monitoring systems are in place to prevent access to inappropriate sites. They emphasized their commitment to working with authorities to address and prevent illegal use of library resources, especially by individuals with a history of offending.