ROBERT KEVAN FROM CANVEY ISLAND SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS IN PRISON FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In June 2009, a father of three from Canvey Island, Robert Kevan, age 46, was sentenced to six months in prison after admitting to possessing child pornography. Kevan, residing on Kamerwyk Avenue, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of possessing indecent images on his home computer. The police found a total of 208 images during a raid in October the previous year, including nine classified as the most severe category, depicting sadism or bestiality.

The images were uncovered after an IT specialist, who had repaired one of Kevan’s hard drives, tipped off authorities. Prosecutor Mike Fraser explained that Kevan had organized the images into a folder labeled “quarantined” following their download from LimeWire, a file-sharing website.

Detective Constable Paul Alabaster of the Rayleigh Child Abuse Investigation Unit stated to Basildon Crown Court that while Kevan appeared to attempt to conceal the files, it was evident he had viewed them.

During mitigation, lawyer Carl Swift told the court that Kevan’s life had been drastically affected by a work-related accident involving a forklift, which injured his spine and left him confined to the house. He noted that this incident led Kevan to withdraw from his family life and significantly contributed to an impending divorce.

Mr. Swift explained that Kevan initially searched for amateur adult content online but later became involved with child pornography after establishing an online relationship with a French woman who sent him indecent images of her daughter.

Judge Philip Clegg addressed the court, stating, “Kevan sought solace in pornography, but it became clear that he developed a disturbing preference for child porn.” The judge emphasized that although Kevan did not attempt to share the images, his viewing contributed to the demand that fuels the abuse of children. “If it were not for people like you, who are prepared to view this sort of stuff, then the demand would stop. And that would help stop the terrible abuse of these children, who are suffering in the most awful way for the gratification of people like you,” said Judge Clegg.

Throughout the hearing, Kevan remained unmoved, dressed in a light-checked shirt and holding his walking stick as he was sentenced. He was also banned from working with children and ordered to report to police for the next seven years following his release. Kevan had previously admitted to the charges at an earlier hearing.