ALAN KENCH SHOCKS WOODFORD HALSE WITH LENIENT SENTENCE FOR TOILET SPY CRIME

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Woodford Halse, Northampton Crown Court recently heard the details of Alan Kench, a 48-year-old man who committed heinous acts involving the use of a hidden camera to secretly record young girls in his own bathroom. Over a span of two years, Kench managed to film a total of twelve girls, whose ages ranged from 13 to 18, capturing their private moments without their knowledge or consent.

The court was informed that Kench had taken his voyeurism a step further by creating a DVD featuring his preferred scenes from the secret recordings. Additionally, some of these images were transformed into screensavers, highlighting the extent of his disturbing obsession. Despite the severity of his actions, Kench was not sentenced to immediate imprisonment. Instead, he received a six-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to 11 charges of downloading child pornography, alongside a three-year community order for 12 counts of voyeurism.

The judge, Peter Morrell, explained that the legal framework and sentencing guidelines constrained the court’s options. Voyeurism, which Kench admitted to, is not punishable by jail time under current law, and the possession of child pornography typically results in a sentence between six and twelve months. The judge expressed concern that a short prison term would not address the underlying issues, stating, “If I was to send you to prison for six months, you would serve three months and you would come out and your (sex offending) problems would not be addressed.” He further noted that a longer sentence, such as three years, would likely be rejected on appeal, emphasizing the limitations imposed by the law.

Remarkably, Kench was also spared from any restrictions on his future use of computers or the internet, despite his history of exploiting these tools for his illicit activities. It was revealed that he had cultivated relationships with numerous young individuals, many of whom visited his house to use his computer or watch films. The discovery of the camera was made when a boy visiting the toilet noticed the lens, leading to the police raid.

During the search, authorities found a disturbing collection of 481 indecent images of children stored across Kench’s three computers. The community’s victims, many of whom had trusted Kench and used his home as a safe space, sat through the court proceedings with visible distress. After the hearing, they expressed their disappointment, feeling that justice had not been fully served. One mother, whose daughter was among the victims, voiced her frustration, saying, “I am very disappointed, we were led to believe he would get a jail sentence. The judge could have jailed him but he went down the rehabilitation route.”

The case has left a lasting impact on Woodford Halse, raising serious concerns about safeguarding and the adequacy of legal penalties for such grave offenses. The community now grapples with the unsettling reality of how justice was ultimately administered in this troubling case.