ANDREW DAVIDSON FROM NEW FOREST CAUGHT IN CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL AT SOUTHAMPTON CROWN COURT

A notorious offender with a troubling history of child exploitation was recently brought before Southampton Crown Court, where he faced serious charges related to breaching strict court orders designed to prevent further crimes. Andrew Davidson, aged 63 and residing in Belmore Gardens, Lymington, has long been under scrutiny for his involvement in the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, a pattern that has persisted over many years.

Davidson’s criminal record includes a significant conviction in 2018 in Nottingham, where he was sentenced to ten months in prison for possessing thousands of indecent photographs of minors, including images classified as Category A—the most severe and disturbing category. At that time, he was living in Nottingham and was already under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed in 2006 following a previous offence. That earlier conviction resulted in a suspended sentence and mandated participation in an internet sex offenders treatment program.

Despite these measures, Davidson continued to breach the terms of his SHPO. In 2021, he again violated the order, leading to a suspended prison sentence and the imposition of additional restrictions. However, the cycle of breaches persisted, culminating in the recent case heard in November at Southampton Crown Court. A jury found Davidson guilty of breaching his SHPO once more, after authorities uncovered alarming evidence of his online activities.

In October of the previous year, an offender monitoring firm detected that Davidson had installed software on his laptop which allowed him to browse the internet anonymously, evading detection. Prosecutor Harvey Keely explained that this software prevented the monitoring company from viewing Davidson’s online searches, and there was no search history available to trace his activity. This raised immediate concerns among law enforcement officials, prompting police to investigate further.

When police officers arrived at Davidson’s residence, they seized all internet-enabled devices, including a Samsung mobile phone. Examination of these devices revealed the presence of five images of child abuse, three of which were classified as Category A. Davidson was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to breaching his SHPO. However, he denied the additional allegation of creating an indecent image of a child between February 25, 2018, and June 1, 2021. Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty of this offence as well.

During the court proceedings, Davidson’s defense lawyer, Nicholas Gammon, argued that his client had used the software to access old emails and claimed he was unaware of how the indecent images had come to be on his devices. Gammon emphasized that Davidson cares for his partner, who is seriously ill, and suggested that imprisonment would severely impact his ability to provide care and support. He also pointed out that law enforcement agencies would continue to monitor Davidson closely, implying that he posed little risk of further offending if he was not incarcerated.

Judge Newton-Price KC acknowledged the arguments presented but expressed his agreement with the defense’s suggestion that Davidson should dispose of all internet devices to prevent further breaches. Ultimately, the judge sentenced Davidson to a total of 14 months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, Davidson was ordered to adhere to a 10-year SHPO and complete 150 hours of unpaid community work. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of his repeated violations and the ongoing threat posed by individuals involved in such heinous crimes.