PETER CARTER FROM CLEVEDON AND WESTON JAILED FOR CHILD SEX IMAGE OFFENSES

In a serious case that has shocked the local communities of Clevedon and Weston, 68-year-old Peter Carter has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of downloading and possessing indecent images and videos of young boys. The incident, which came to light in May 2013, revealed disturbing details about Carter’s actions and his prior criminal record.

According to court reports, Carter, a resident of Sunnyside Road, Weston, initially purchased his laptop for routine activities such as internet banking and browsing the Liverpool Football Club website. However, in July 2011, his online activity took a disturbing turn when he began searching for images of naked boys aged between 10 and 14. Prosecutor Michael Collins told the North Somerset Courthouse that police discovered two files on Carter’s computer, which depicted naked boys engaging in sexual acts. The images included a photograph of a boy aged around 10 and a three-minute video of a similar nature, classified as category two and category four respectively, with five being the highest severity rating for such material.

During the investigation, authorities also found 28 additional images of a similar nature on Carter’s device. However, these were not deemed severe enough to warrant further charges. The police reports indicated that Carter had injured himself while performing a sexual act, which led him to realize he needed help. Subsequently, he traveled to Birmingham to seek counseling and received support from his local Methodist church, demonstrating some level of remorse and willingness to address his issues.

In court, Carter’s defense lawyer, Anjam Arif, argued that the files had been downloaded automatically onto Carter’s computer and that he had never opened or viewed them. Mr. Arif emphasized Carter’s remorse, stating, “He does express considerable remorse and regret for his actions.”

It was also revealed that Carter had a prior conviction for indecent assault on a 12-year-old boy, which occurred nine years earlier. This history contributed to the court’s decision to impose a custodial sentence. Carter admitted to two counts of making indecent images and movies of children during a hearing before magistrates the previous month. The court classified the photograph as category two and the video as category four, with the latter being of significant concern due to its explicit content.

Judge Chris Darke, chair of the bench, stated that a custodial sentence was the only appropriate response given the gravity of the offenses and Carter’s criminal history. Carter was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison for the video and an additional four weeks for the photograph, with both terms to be served concurrently. Furthermore, he will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years and subject to a sex offenders’ prevention order. The court also ordered the destruction of Carter’s laptop to prevent further access to such material.

In a related hearing, Carter admitted to making an indecent photograph of a child between May 2011 and February 2012, as well as creating an indecent movie of a child in August 2011. Prosecutor Collins reiterated that the images involved boys aged 12 to 15 and that Carter’s name was linked to the material through investigations by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). The court heard that Carter had not viewed the movie file himself, but it was stored on his computer after being downloaded along with the images. His defense highlighted that Carter had been a law-abiding citizen, employed at the local post office, and that he was suffering from serious health issues, including kidney cancer and a heart condition, which limited his ability to perform unpaid work.

Judge Darke scheduled Carter’s sentencing for May 20 at North Somerset Courthouse, emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses and the need for appropriate punishment to protect the community from further harm.