RICHARD MOORE FROM NORTHFLEET AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES

In October 2013, Richard Moore, a former soldier with a distinguished military background, faced the courts in Maidstone and Southwark for serious offenses related to child exploitation and possession of prohibited weapons. Moore, who resides on Burch Road in Northfleet and has ties to Tunbridge Wells, was found guilty of multiple charges involving indecent images of children and the possession of a stun gun, a prohibited weapon.

His legal troubles stem from incidents that occurred on November 7 of the previous year, when he admitted to making four indecent images of children and possessing a stun gun. Despite the gravity of these charges, Judge Charles Byers, presiding over the case at Maidstone Crown Court, chose to suspend Moore’s prison sentence, opting for a two-year probation period instead. The judge expressed a nuanced view of Moore’s past, acknowledging his 10 years of service in the Parachute Regiment, where he was awarded a general service medal, and his deployment in Iraq and other challenging environments.

Judge Byers remarked, “Thereafter, you served in difficult circumstances in Iraq and elsewhere. I think there is something in what your counsel says, that it was after Iraq things started to go wrong in your life. You are plainly a man who has a good sense of duty and ability to take responsibility quite properly. That is why I am going to take a chance with you.” The court was told that Moore’s behavior might have been influenced by his experiences during his military service, particularly his time in Iraq, where he worked as close protection personnel and attended numerous funerals, far more than during his service in the Paras.

Moore, aged 36 at the time, had a prior conviction for similar offenses in October 2008. His defense attorney, Charles Durrant, highlighted that Moore’s military record was exemplary and suggested that the issues arose after his service, during the two years following his discharge. Durrant emphasized that Moore had made significant efforts to change and that he required professional help, including a sex offender treatment program with supervision for two years.

Judge Byers expressed concern that Moore had not previously received adequate support and noted that his distinguished service might warrant a second chance. However, he made it clear that the court takes such offenses very seriously, emphasizing that the production of indecent images directly correlates to the abuse of children. The judge warned Moore that failure to comply with the court’s orders could result in imprisonment, stating, “If you want to serve a prison sentence, then violate the suspended sentence.”

Furthermore, Moore was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order and was required to register as a sex offender. The court’s decision underscored the importance of rehabilitation and the need for offenders to seek help to prevent future offenses.

In a separate but related case from 2008, Moore, then stationed in Iraq and based in Tunbridge Wells, was also spared jail after sending hundreds of sexually explicit emails to a schoolgirl. The recipient was an undercover police officer from the Met’s Paedophile Unit, and Moore’s computer contained 28 indecent images of children. Following his guilty pleas, Moore was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after attempting to take his own life and was hospitalized. The court heard that Moore’s service in Sierra Leone, where he risked his life overseeing hostage situations, contributed to his mental health issues. Judge John Price acknowledged Moore’s mental health struggles and emphasized the need for treatment, but ultimately decided against imprisonment, reflecting the complex circumstances surrounding his case.