EX-DETECTIVE SIDNEY FILLERY FROM GREAT YARMOUTH AND WEST KINGSDOWN ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL

In a case that has drawn significant concern, Sidney Fillery, a man with a history rooted in law enforcement, has been spared imprisonment after admitting to serious charges related to the possession and download of child sexual abuse images. Fillery, who is currently residing in Great Yarmouth and also has ties to West Kingsdown, was previously employed as a detective constable at Catford police station until 1987. His criminal activities came to light following a police raid in December 2002, which was part of an unrelated investigation but led to the discovery of illicit material on his computer.

According to court proceedings, Fillery, now aged 57, demonstrated a disturbing level of premeditation and deliberate intent in accessing websites explicitly targeted at paedophiles. The Bow Street Magistrates heard that he showed an “active interest” in such sites, which was confirmed by evidence indicating he made a conscious decision to visit unambiguously named websites associated with child exploitation.

Fillery’s actions were uncovered when police officers raided his offices located in south east London, specifically in the Thornton Heath area, as part of their broader investigation. During the search, they discovered pornographic material stored within the temporary internet files and on various parts of his computer’s hard drive. The evidence suggested that Fillery had engaged in dedicated searching and downloading activities related to child sexual abuse images, despite the fact that he did not subscribe or make payments to these websites, nor did he save any images directly from the sites.

At the sentencing hearing, District Judge Caroline Tubbs expressed her deep concern over the case, emphasizing the gravity of the offences. Fillery pleaded guilty to 13 counts of making indecent images of children, which resulted in a sentence of a three-year community rehabilitation order rather than imprisonment. The judge highlighted that the evidence pointed to a planned and conscious effort on Fillery’s part to access and download illegal material, raising serious questions about his intentions and the potential risk posed to children.

Hugh Davies, representing the prosecution, detailed the findings, noting that the evidence was clear about Fillery’s active engagement with illegal content. Despite his background as a former police officer, the court was told that Fillery’s actions demonstrated a troubling deviation from lawful conduct, leading to a sentence that aims to rehabilitate rather than punish with jail time. The case remains a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and integrity within law enforcement and the broader community.