SIMON MARKHAM FROM PETERBOROUGH SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AT PETERBOROUGH CROWN COURT

In a case that has shocked the local community of Peterborough, Simon Markham, a 45-year-old man residing on Thurning Avenue in the Stanground area, was sentenced to a 10-month prison term after being found in possession of a significant collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light when Markham-Gebbie took his laptop to a repair shop, where technicians discovered the illicit material stored on his device, leading to his subsequent arrest.

Markham-Gebbie, who was employed as a manager at the well-known engineering firm Perkins based in Peterborough, was visibly distressed during the court proceedings. As he was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court, he broke down in tears, a reaction that underscored the gravity of his actions. Prior to sentencing, he had already pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including possession of indecent images with intent to show, creation of such images, and possession of multiple indecent images, with these pleas entered at an earlier hearing.

Prosecutor Anthony Hook detailed the extent of the evidence, revealing that authorities found a total of 374 images on Markham-Gebbie’s computer’s hard drive and two separate memory sticks. The images were classified according to the Copine Scale, a system used to measure the severity of such material. The findings indicated that 374 images fell into Level One, which is considered the least severe, while 21 images were classified at Level Two, 48 at Level Three, 83 at Level Four, and 12 at Level Five—the highest level of severity, indicating the most serious and disturbing content.

During the hearing, Markham-Gebbie’s defense attorney, Gemma Stokes, addressed the court, explaining that her client had been experiencing depression over an unspecified period. She stated, “He became depressed over a period of time. He doesn’t understand the reason, he became curious about these images.” Despite this explanation, the judge, Peter Murphy, emphasized the heinous nature of the crimes, remarking, “Each image represents an act of child rape, of sexual assault against a child. The damage inflicted can only be imagined.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Markham-Gebbie was subjected to a lifelong ban from working with children, a measure intended to protect the community from potential harm. Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender, a legal requirement that will follow him for the foreseeable future. The case has left many in Peterborough deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of children in the area, highlighting the importance of vigilance and swift legal action in such disturbing cases.