RICHARD FAULKNER FROM WOULDHAM SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN KENT

A 70-year-old man named Richard Faulkner, residing near Wouldham High Street, has been sentenced to prison after authorities uncovered an extensive collection of indecent images of children on his electronic devices. The investigation revealed that despite being under a strict sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), Faulkner continued to access and possess highly illegal material.

The case came to light in January of the previous year when police officers, conducting routine checks, discovered that Faulkner’s devices contained numerous child abuse images. Among these were some classified in the most severe category, indicating the most serious and disturbing content. The presence of such material was a clear violation of the restrictions imposed on him.

Under the terms of his SHPO, Faulkner was explicitly prohibited from using any device capable of internet access unless it was fitted with a web-monitoring program approved by authorities. Despite these restrictions, the police’s monitoring software issued an alert in August, just seven months after the order was enforced, indicating that Faulkner had been accessing illegal content on a computer registered to him. This breach prompted immediate action from law enforcement.

Following the alert, officers arrested Faulkner and conducted a thorough search of his residence. During the search, they seized multiple electronic devices, including computers and other storage media, some of which were not registered with the police force. Faulkner was taken into custody and questioned. During his initial police interview, he denied any involvement or knowledge of possessing illegal images, claiming he no longer had any sexual interest in children. He insisted he was unaware of how such images could have appeared on his devices.

However, forensic analysis of the seized devices later proved his claims false. Detailed examinations revealed hundreds of thousands of illegal images, including over 160 photos and videos classified in the most serious category of child exploitation material. The forensic evidence confirmed that Faulkner had been actively accessing and possessing these images, directly contravening the law and the conditions of his SHPO.

Faulkner faced multiple charges in court, including making indecent images of children, breaching his sexual harm prevention order, and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements—specifically, neglecting to register several bank and credit cards with police authorities. His guilty plea was entered at Maidstone Crown Court, where he admitted to all charges.

On February 4, Faulkner was sentenced to three years in prison. The court also activated a previously suspended sentence, adding to the severity of his punishment. Sergeant Steph Kirkin commented on the case, emphasizing the importance of the measures in place to protect children. She stated, “Faulkner had been the subject of strict measures designed to reduce the risk of him reoffending. He attempted to manipulate the monitoring software placed on his computer, in attempts to disguise the fact he was frequently seeking access to disturbing and harmful images, many of which include the horrific abuse of children. Sexual harm prevention orders are passed by the courts to help protect children and as this case shows, we will do everything we can to ensure those who ignore them face the consequences of their actions.”