PHILLIP POCKLINGTON CAUGHT WITH CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE VIDEOS IN HULL
In January 2015, authorities uncovered a disturbing case involving Phillip Pocklington, a 54-year-old man from Hull, who was found in possession of a significant collection of indecent images and videos depicting children.The investigation was initiated after a tip-off led the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) to focus on an address located in Merlin Close, Sutton, in east Hull, on December 21, 2013.
It was revealed that Pocklington’s residence was being used to access and download illicit material via his internet connection.
The authorities identified that he had accessed a total of 172 videos, with 79 classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of indecency.
These videos contained explicit content involving children, raising serious concerns about his activities.
On March 9, 2014, Humberside Police executed a search warrant at Pocklington’s home.
During the search, officers recovered various computer hardware and digital storage devices.
In addition to the videos, they found a staggering 5,405 indecent photographs that had been downloaded, viewed, and subsequently deleted by Pocklington.
The evidence suggested a pattern of illicit activity involving the viewing and possession of child exploitation material.
Prosecutor Glenn Parsons explained to Hull Crown Court that Pocklington was arrested at his residence and admitted to using a peer-to-peer sharing website.
He acknowledged that he had come across photographs of children while browsing the site but claimed to have deleted such images.
Pocklington’s background was noted as previously having a good character, which was considered during sentencing.
On December 19, Pocklington pleaded guilty to 12 counts of possessing indecent images and extreme pornography.
His defense lawyer, Richard Thompson, argued that the Crown accepted Pocklington had not actively searched for child abuse material but had been sent such images along with adult pornography.
Thompson emphasized that Pocklington had a large quantity of adult material on his computer and that over time, he had inadvertently crossed into viewing illegal content involving children.
Thompson also stated that Pocklington had taken steps to prevent himself from viewing such material again, including voluntarily cutting off his home internet access.
The lawyer clarified that most of the material involved children aged between 12 and 15, rather than very young children, and that Pocklington had mistakenly believed that viewing pornography involving 16 to 18-year-olds was legal.
Judge Mark Bury addressed the court, highlighting that Pocklington’s possession of child abuse images was a “byproduct” of his searches for adult material.
He emphasized the seriousness of such offenses, stating, “We take these offences very seriously because for each image that is produced there will be someone who has been abused.
While there are people such as you who visit these sites, there will always be a market for these images.” As part of his sentence, Pocklington was given an eight-month prison term, suspended for 18 months.
He was also subjected to a seven-year sexual offences prevention order, which mandates police access to any electronic devices capable of storing or viewing internet content.
Additionally, he was prohibited from deleting internet history on such devices and was ordered to register as a sex offender for eight years.
Furthermore, Pocklington was sentenced to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the need for ongoing monitoring.
