SHAWN PERKS FROM WARWICK CAUGHT VIEWING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN WARWICK COURT

In July 2018, a man from Warwick, identified as Shawn Perks, faced legal proceedings after a lengthy delay in addressing his case related to the viewing of child abuse images on his personal computer. The case, which had been prolonged due to Perks’s persistent legal resistance, was ultimately resolved when he chose to accept responsibility and plead guilty to multiple charges.

Perks, aged 48 and residing on Humphris Street in Warwick, appeared before Warwick Crown Court to admit guilt to three counts of making indecent images of children. His decision to plead guilty marked a significant turning point in a case that had been delayed for years. The court subsequently sentenced him to nine months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offense within that period.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC ordered Perks to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program and engage in activities aimed at addressing his behavior. The judge also mandated that Perks register as a sex offender for a decade and imposed a financial penalty of £250 to cover court costs.

Prosecutor Simon Burch provided details of the police investigation, revealing that in November 2015, law enforcement officers visited Perks’s residence. During the search, they confiscated a laptop and an external hard drive. An examination of the external hard drive’s unallocated space uncovered a total of 325 indecent images of children. The laptop was also found to contain software designed for anonymous browsing, which suggested an attempt to conceal his online activities.

Addressing Perks during sentencing, Judge Lockhart expressed regret over the lengthy delay in resolving the case, criticizing Perks’s own actions. The judge stated, “These matters could have been concluded so very long ago, but you chose to adopt a position of denial, which was most unfortunate.” He further explained that between 2012 and 2015, Perks had deliberately searched for indecent images of children on multiple occasions, despite his attempts to deny his interest. The judge emphasized the gravity of viewing such images, noting that each instance perpetuates the abuse and suffering of the children depicted, who often grow into adults while their images remain accessible on the internet.

Judge Lockhart’s remarks underscored the serious nature of the offense and the importance of accountability, highlighting the ongoing harm caused by the distribution and viewing of child abuse images.