SIMON KING BASINGSTOKE AQUARIUM WORKER JAILED FOR DISTRIBUTING THOUSANDS OF CHILD PORN IMAGES

In April 2013, a disturbing case emerged involving Simon King, a man from Basingstoke, who was convicted of possessing and distributing a vast collection of illegal images depicting children. The investigation was initiated after authorities in Manchester tipped off the police about an individual sharing and viewing illicit content online.

During a police search of King's residence at Flaxfield Court, Brookvale, Basingstoke, officers uncovered an alarming cache of over 100,000 indecent images stored on his laptop. It was revealed that King had accumulated this extensive collection over a period of time, although not all images had been viewed by him. The police also discovered conversations between King and other users on the Gigatribe platform, where he expressed his desire to view certain types of disturbing images, including those involving children and bestiality.

King, aged 27 at the time, appeared before Winchester Crown Court to face sentencing after admitting to 22 separate charges. These charges included possession of indecent images of children, distribution of such material, and the sharing of content involving bestiality. The court was informed that the investigation traced the source of the illegal material to King's online activity, which was linked to his username on the platform.

Prosecutor Kerry Maylin emphasized the severity of the case, stating, “It came to light after a tip-off from Greater Manchester Police that an internet user was making available for distribution, images and movies of sexual abuse of children. What then occurred was an investigation into the internet user’s address which was linked to a particular user name.”

In his defense, Berenice Mulvanny highlighted that King, who was employed at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, had sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting children from sexual abuse, following his arrest. Despite this, Judge Ben Compton made it clear that he could not suspend the custodial sentence.

Judge Compton stated, “Those who indulge themselves in this form of addiction, and in this case distributing images to people who have the same corrupt views, are supporting the victimisation of children.”

Consequently, Simon King was sentenced to one year in prison. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual offences prevention order, which will remain in effect until further court orders are issued. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution of child exploitation material and the importance of swift action in such disturbing cases.