RAYMOND COCKBURN OF GILESGATE JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN DURHAM

In a case that has shocked the local community of Gilesgate, Durham, Raymond Cockburn, a 78-year-old man previously regarded as having an 'exemplary' character, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in possessing and distributing indecent images of children. The proceedings took place at Durham Crown Court, where it was revealed that Cockburn's activities spanned several years, involving the download and sharing of highly disturbing material.

According to court reports, Cockburn’s criminal behavior came to light after cyber-crime investigators noticed suspicious activity on his computer. Specifically, his search engine activity raised red flags, prompting further investigation. Prosecutor Jonathan Harley explained that Cockburn had been active on a social media forum where discussions related to child abuse were taking place. This online behavior led authorities to scrutinize his digital footprint more closely.

An examination of Cockburn’s laptop uncovered a staggering collection of 384 indecent images, with 159 classified as the most serious category. These images, which depicted very young children in distressing situations, were amassed over a period from 2014 up until August of the previous year. The investigation also revealed that Cockburn possessed more than 40 videos, some lasting as long as 34 minutes, which further illustrated the severity of his offending.

The court heard that Cockburn, who resides at Shepherd’s Court in Gilesgate, Durham, admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of distributing such images, and one count of possessing extreme pornography. His guilty plea was accepted, and he was subsequently sentenced to a year in prison. Despite his age and previously unblemished reputation, the judge, Recorder Caroline Wigin, emphasized that the nature of the images left no choice but to impose an immediate custodial sentence. Additionally, Cockburn was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

Earlier in August 2018, Cockburn had already admitted to possessing and sharing indecent images. During a court appearance at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to four counts related to the possession and creation of offensive images and videos of children, dating from 2004 to 2016. Prosecutor Joanne Hesse detailed that Cockburn’s collection included approximately 485 images, with a significant portion classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse. The images also included material involving animals, classified as extreme pornography.

Hesse further explained that the images were downloaded over a period from August 14, 2014, to August 2016, with the most offensive images being Category A. The possession of such material, especially given the age of the children depicted, compounded the seriousness of the case. As part of the legal process, Cockburn was ordered to sign the sex offenders register ahead of his sentencing hearing scheduled at Durham Crown Court in September, where a more comprehensive penalty will be determined.