OXFORD PENSIONER JAILED AFTER SEARCHING FOR INDECENT IMAGES
A paedophile pensioner has been jailed after searching for images of undressed children online.Thomas Bell, of Wolsey Road, Oxford, breached a sexual harm prevention order imposed in 2018 and was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court.
Bell, 74, pleaded guilty to five breaches before the hearing on November 12.
The court heard that the order was initially imposed on the former eye surgeon after he was sentenced for making incident images of children and having extreme pornography.
According to the court record, he used a false name on the app Kik, installed and deleted apps, disabled risk management software, used an unregistered iPad and used a false name on Google.
Sandra Beck, prosecuting, told the court that Bell was visited by an officer at his home on October 1 for an unannounced inspection of his device.
It was on that occasion that it was discovered he had breached the sexual harm prevention order.
The court heard that he had searched on Google for images of 'kids in Speedos' and 'girls in underwear'.
Bell also searched for AI images of children.
Ms Beck also told the court that the Kik app he installed and deleted is 'synonymous with sex offenders'.
Bell initially denied the allegations put to him in police interview, but pleaded guilty to all five charges at Oxford Magistrates' Court.
Ms Beck said Bell had previously breached the sexual harm prevention order in 2021, adding: "He has a history of disobedience." Peter Du Feu, mitigating, said: "A sad and embarrassing way for a man to end up in his latter years.
He lost his career as an eye surgeon due to mental health issues.
"His family remain very supportive." Mr Due Feu told the court that Bell had been suffering from long-term bipolar disorder.
He added: "By the time of his arrest he was really quite unwell.
When he went into prison, he was almost certainly suffering with delusions.
"He looks back at what he did and tries to justify it as an accident.
He recognises he has feelings and urges about young children.
"He has to face up to the risk he has in his own life.
He's got to learn his lesson, that there are no excuses." Judge Michael Roques said: "This breach involves a risk of very serious harm.
You were looking for further indecent images of children." Bell was jailed for two years.
After the sentence was passed, Bell said: "How could you get that so wrong?"
