ADRIAN MILES FROM LITTLEHAMPTON AND READING CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND LETTERS

In June 2022, Adrian Miles, a man with a troubling history of offenses related to child exploitation, was found to possess a significant collection of indecent images of children, leading to serious legal consequences. The police executed a warrant at his residence in Honiton, where they seized his mobile phone and uncovered a disturbing total of 1,631 indecent images, some depicting the rape of children. The majority of these images featured children aged between six and twelve years old. Further investigation revealed that Miles had actively searched the internet for such images and for information about specialized software designed to delete digital footprints, indicating an attempt to conceal his activities.

Adrian Miles, aged 55 at the time, admitted to having a sexual interest in children but expressed a desire to change his ways. His legal case was heard at Exeter Crown Court, where he was given a suspended prison sentence. The court also mandated that he participate in a sex offender treatment program. The judge emphasized that Miles narrowly avoided immediate imprisonment, stating he had escaped jail 'by the skin of his teeth.'

In addition to the suspended sentence, Miles was ordered to cooperate with probation services and was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order restricts his access to the internet and limits his contact with young girls, aiming to prevent further offenses. Prosecutor Miss Victoria Bastock detailed that police had executed the warrant in February 2020, and the evidence found was deeply troubling, including images that showed children being raped. Miles pleaded guilty to three charges related to the possession of indecent images of children.

His criminal history includes a previous conviction from 2016, when he was caught with approximately 6,000 indecent images of children stored on a computer and USB drive in Darlaston, West Midlands. Despite the severity of that offense, he was not jailed at that time either. The court records also reveal that Miles has a history of inappropriate conduct dating back to 2001, when he was arrested after sending a 'romantic' letter to a 13-year-old girl he met at church. He has also been convicted of indecent assault on an adult in 1995.

Further details emerged from his past, including a 2016 case where he was found with over 6,000 indecent images, including some classified as the most serious Category A images. During that investigation, police discovered search terms related to 'pre-teen naturists' in his internet history. Miles, then aged 49, was arrested following a tip-off and received a 12-month suspended sentence, along with mental health treatment and a sexual harm prevention order that requires him to allow police access to his internet activity and to remain on the sex offenders register for ten years.

In a separate incident in April 2001, Miles was involved in a controversy at Bearwood Baptist Church in Smethwick. He wrote a letter to a 13-year-old girl he had met at the church, which was deemed inappropriate by church authorities. The girl's father reported the matter to Reverend Warwick Lydiate, who subsequently banned Miles from attending the church. Miles claimed he believed the girl was 16 and insisted his intentions were innocent, describing the letter as 'romantic' and 'friendly' with no sexual connotations. He expressed regret over losing his connection to the church and claimed he was being unfairly treated.

Reverend Lydiate confirmed that Miles was aware of the child's age and stated that the church's decision to exclude him was based on child protection concerns. Miles was later charged with harassment, which could result in up to six months in prison and a fine. He also alleged that he was threatened by police during his arrest. Miles, who was living in Edgbaston, Birmingham at the time, was scheduled to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court in July. The police confirmed that a formal complaint had been made against an officer involved in his arrest, which was under investigation. Overall, Adrian Miles's history reflects a pattern of concerning behavior involving minors, leading to ongoing legal and social repercussions.