KESGRAVE MAN THOMAS MYHILL SENTENCED FOR VIEWING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN IPSWICH

In December 2016, police officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Thomas Myhill, a 27-year-old man residing in Castle Gardens, Kesgrave, near Ipswich. The officers arrived with the warrant and promptly arrested Myhill, who was found holding his mobile phone tightly against his chest, indicating a possible attempt to conceal or hide evidence.

According to court reports, when asked to surrender his phone, Myhill responded hesitantly, stating, “In a minute. I think I’m going to be sick,” before making a sudden dash towards the bathroom in an apparent attempt to evade further questioning. The police quickly intervened, bringing him to the ground to prevent his escape and confiscated his mobile device.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the police had also seized a computer from his home. Forensic analysis of the laptop uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images involving children. Experts identified a total of 27 images, which included both still photographs and videos. These images were categorized into three levels of severity: four videos classified as Level A, indicating the most serious content; five images and videos in Level B; and 18 images in Level C, the lowest category. The victims depicted in these images ranged in age from as young as three to as old as 16 years old, with female children being the subjects of the material.

Further investigation revealed that Myhill had employed a secure browsing application on his computer to conceal his online activities and hide his identity from surveillance efforts. This indicates a deliberate attempt to evade detection while accessing and viewing illegal content.

Myhill, who is originally from Kesgrave but was residing on Faraday Road in Ipswich at the time of his arrest, admitted to three charges of making indecent images of children. The offenses spanned from March 16, 2011, to December 6 of the previous year, demonstrating a pattern of offending over a period of nearly six years.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge John Devaux described the gravity of Myhill’s actions, emphasizing the prolonged period during which he had been viewing such material. The judge sentenced Myhill to four months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Myhill was ordered to participate in a 40-day rehabilitation activity program aimed at addressing his behavior. He was also required to pay costs amounting to £320. Furthermore, the court imposed a sexual harm prevention order, which will remain in effect for seven years, restricting his activities and contact. He was also mandated to register as a sex offender for the same duration, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct to protect the community from potential harm.