ADRIAN CIRKET FROM DYMCHURCH SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES AT CANTERBURY CROWN COURT

In June 2011, a disturbing case unfolded at Canterbury Crown Court involving Adrian Cirket, a former Labour councillor from Dymchurch, who faced serious charges related to the possession of child pornography. The case drew significant attention not only because of the nature of the crimes but also due to the circumstances that led to his arrest.

Cirket, aged 54 and originally from Botswana, was arrested after his partner, the mother of three of his five children, discovered an illegal collection of images on his laptop computer. Her discovery prompted her to report the matter to the police, an act that was later praised by the court for its courage and moral strength. The partner, Titose, who had been present in the public gallery during the sentencing, played a pivotal role in bringing the case to light.

During the proceedings, Recorder Stephen Bellamy QC acknowledged her bravery, stating, "I want to pay tribute to the courage of your partner who, notwithstanding some pressure from your family not to report the matter, took the unprecedented step of drawing the contents of your computer to the attention of the police. At the time you may have been utterly devastated and angry, but you have now seen that she has done you, as well as the public, a great service. She is clearly a very special woman. I can’t praise her highly enough. You should cherish that!"

Adrian Cirket admitted to ten charges of downloading child pornography. Forensic experts revealed that over a period of three years, his computer contained more than 500 sexual images of children, some as young as five years old. The images ranged in severity, with some classified at level four, which is the second-highest category of such material. Despite the volume and severity of the images, Cirket claimed that he had not viewed the most depraved files, although he had downloaded them.

The court heard that Cirket, who had previously served as a school governor, had been suspended from his role as an operations technician at Dungeness Nuclear Power Station for the past two years. A decision regarding his employment status was pending.

During the hearing, Oliver Saxby, defending Cirket, noted that his client accepted the need for help and expressed remorse. Cirket was visibly distressed, wringing his hands throughout the proceedings. The judge acknowledged his remorse but emphasized the broader societal implications, stating, "Were it not for people like you, who are willing to consume this degrading and horrendous material, those who distributed it, there would not be so much of it on the Internet."

Furthermore, the court was informed that Cirket had suffered a near mental breakdown and had contemplated suicide, indicating the profound psychological toll these revelations had taken on him. The judge characterized his actions as an aberration caused by significant stress and hard work, rather than a reflection of his character.

As part of his sentence, Cirket was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years. The court’s decision underscored the seriousness of his offenses and the importance of public safety and protection, especially considering his previous involvement in community service, including eight years on Shepway District Council and later on St Mary in the Marsh Parish Council.