SIMON LENTON FROM RUGBY JAILED FOR DOWNLOAD OF CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN WARWICK

In July 2013, a man from Newbold, Rugby, was sentenced to prison after a disturbing investigation uncovered his involvement in downloading and possessing a large collection of child abuse images. Simon Graham Lenton, aged 34 and residing on Grange Road in Rugby, faced serious charges related to the possession of indecent images of children, which included some of the most grotesque and disturbing material available.

During the proceedings at Warwick Crown Court, the judge described the images found on Lenton’s devices as the worst she had ever encountered. She emphasized that by downloading these images, Lenton was directly contributing to the ongoing abuse of vulnerable children depicted in the videos. The court heard that Lenton had pleaded guilty to 11 charges of making indecent images of children, acknowledging his involvement in the illegal activity.

As the court session progressed, Lenton appeared visibly distressed, standing in the dock and visibly shaking while wringing his hands. The judge, Sylvia de Bertodano, sentenced him to 18 months in prison. Additionally, she ordered him to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years and imposed a lifelong ban on working with children, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

Judge de Bertodano made a pointed statement about the nature of the images, stating, “These are real things happening to real children; it’s not some fantasy world on your computer. They are images created for a market, and the market is created by people like you. You are a direct contributor to the horrific abuse of very young children.” She further highlighted that Lenton was actively involved in online chat rooms where he shared his disturbing interests with others who held similar views.

The judge underscored the gravity of the case by noting that the images were among the worst she had seen, and she made it clear that such offenses must be met with strict punishment. The police had acted on information about Lenton’s online activities, leading to his arrest. During his detention, Lenton expressed remorse and asked an officer if he would be going to prison, stating that he would rather die than face incarceration.

An examination of Lenton’s computer and portable hard drive revealed a total of 224 movies, including 187 classified as level four and seven as level five, the most serious categories of child abuse images. He admitted to downloading these files since September of the previous year, acknowledging that he derived some sexual gratification from them. However, he denied any intent or thoughts of actually abusing children in real life.

His defense lawyer, Nick Devine, pleaded with the court to consider a non-custodial sentence, arguing that Lenton was willing to confront his motivations and acknowledge his problem. Despite this, the court’s decision reflected the seriousness of his actions and the need for justice and protection for vulnerable children.