RUSSELL HOGG'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN LARKFIELD: CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND VIOLENCE REVEALED

In July 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded in Larkfield involving convicted sex offender Russell Hogg, who was found to have hidden a laptop containing over 1,000 indecent images of children behind a toilet. The police were called to an address in Larkfield where Hogg had been staying after reports emerged that the device had been discovered by individuals attempting to repair a broken toilet fixture.

According to Kent Police, Hogg, aged 59, had previously pleaded guilty to charges related to the creation of indecent photographs of children. His latest conviction resulted in a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment handed down at Maidstone Crown Court on a recent Tuesday. Additionally, Hogg will be required to register as a sex offender indefinitely, a measure that underscores the severity of his crimes.

During his arrest, authorities found that Hogg had violated the terms of a sexual harm prevention order, which had been imposed due to his prior offenses and specifically restricted his use of electronic devices. In police interviews, Hogg admitted to using the laptop, which was concealed behind a wooden panel in the property. However, he claimed that the device did not belong to him but was instead the property of a deceased uncle. He also denied conducting any searches related to indecent images, despite the evidence.

In a subsequent court hearing, Hogg admitted to breaching the sexual harm prevention order and to the possession of indecent photographs of children, confirming the allegations against him.

Hogg's criminal history in this area is extensive. In January 2018, he was sentenced to an additional 12 months in prison after police discovered indecent images on his laptop. Hogg, who was then 57 and residing on Marlowe Road, claimed he had purchased the laptop during a skiing holiday in France and that it was filled with illegal images. His prior conviction stemmed from a breach of a sexual offences prevention order in February 2017, which led to a two-year prison sentence in April of that year.

While serving that sentence, authorities continued their investigation into Hogg’s activities, including forensic analysis of his computers. This investigation uncovered that Hogg had been downloading hundreds of illegal images onto a laptop and a hard drive, with the total number exceeding 5,000 images. Some of these images were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious level of indecency. Hogg explained to police that he had downloaded these images onto a hard drive intending to return to France and hand the device over to investigators.

As a result of these findings, Hogg faced five additional charges—three related to making indecent images of children and two concerning possession of such images. He pleaded guilty to all charges at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced to an extra year behind bars.

Hogg’s criminal record also includes a previous conviction from 2010, when he was sentenced to nine months for downloading 19,000 indecent images. This was part of an extended sentence with a three-year license period. The 2010 offense was discovered after an altercation with another HGV driver, during which Hogg discharged CS gas into the other driver’s face. Police responded, and a search of his home revealed a laptop and another device under his bed. Despite prior police actions that involved wiping the computers clean, subsequent checks revealed over 100 indecent images, with search terms like “Lolita” used during his online activity.

Further investigations uncovered that Hogg had failed to disclose his criminal record when applying for work as an HGV driver. His history also includes a 1974 offense of indecency and a 2002 conviction in Austria for endangering the moral health of children. Police also found him in breach of a sexual offenses prevention order when he entered a park in New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, where he was observed staring at children. During this incident, police found a laptop and two cameras in his vehicle.

Hogg’s criminal behavior extends beyond sexual offenses. In 2006, he was jailed for four months for racially aggravated threats and threatening behavior. Judge Jeremy Gold QC, presiding over his latest case, remarked on Hogg’s lack of empathy for his victims and his high risk to children, noting that a probation officer’s assessment confirmed these concerns. Hogg was ultimately sentenced to 12 months for downloading offenses and an additional three months for fraud, to be served consecutively.