ANDREW PRATT'S HORRIFIC CHILD PORNOGRAPHY BUST IN HAWKINGE, KENT
| Red Rose Database
Hawkinge Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Hawkinge and the wider Kent region, Andrew Pratt, a 47-year-old man, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after being found guilty of possessing and downloading an extensive collection of child pornography. The investigation revealed that Pratt had accumulated over 6,600 indecent films, many of which were classified at the most severe levels of abuse, with the total running time spanning more than two weeks.
According to court proceedings, authorities executed a raid on Pratt’s residence located in Park Close, Hawkinge, in April of the previous year. During the operation, police seized multiple computers and hard drives that contained the illicit material. Prosecutor Simon Taylor detailed that Pratt had been actively downloading approximately 268,000 images from a file-sharing website over a period exceeding two years. These images depicted children as young as three years old engaged in sexual acts, highlighting the severity and depravity of the material involved.
During police interviews, Pratt admitted to the ongoing downloading of these images, describing his actions as an addiction. He reportedly told officers, “It’s like an addiction. I don’t even look at most of them but it’s just an addiction. You try not to and then you are sort of enticed back and you hate yourself. It has almost become a way of life to me but I hate it but I need it.” His confession underscored the compulsive nature of his behavior and the deep psychological struggle he faced.
Further court records revealed that Pratt’s involvement with such material began as early as 1997, when he first purchased a computer. At that time, he claimed to have become disgusted with himself and had disposed of the images. However, his participation in online groups sharing child abuse images persisted, and he eventually became part of a 30-member community on the internet that exchanged such material, which exacerbated his criminal activity.
Defense attorney Nicholas Jones highlighted the impact of Pratt’s arrest, stating that he, who had previously worked for the UK Border Agency, attempted to take his own life following his detention. Jones described Pratt as “a broken man who has ruined his life as a result of his addiction to Internet pornography.”
Judge Adele Williams addressed Pratt directly in court, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. She stated, “Those who download child pornography allow this evil trade to continue. There are real children being subjected to real sexual abuse in these images. Those who participate in this behaviour attract nothing but revulsion.”
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Sergeant David Shipley from the Child Exploitation Investigation Team at Kent Police condemned Pratt’s conduct, noting the large volume of material he possessed and his apparent pride in sharing it with others. He warned that such behavior perpetuates the abuse of children and that anyone involved in similar activities within Kent can expect to be apprehended and prosecuted by the Public Protection Unit.
Additionally, Peter Davies, Chief Executive of CEOP, praised the collaborative efforts that led to Pratt’s arrest, which was initiated through international cooperation. He reaffirmed the message that making or distributing child abuse material is a serious crime that will be met with swift justice. As part of his sentence, Pratt will be subject to a lifetime sexual offences prevention order, will have to sign the sex offender register indefinitely, and will be under supervision upon release, reflecting the ongoing threat posed by such offenders.
According to court proceedings, authorities executed a raid on Pratt’s residence located in Park Close, Hawkinge, in April of the previous year. During the operation, police seized multiple computers and hard drives that contained the illicit material. Prosecutor Simon Taylor detailed that Pratt had been actively downloading approximately 268,000 images from a file-sharing website over a period exceeding two years. These images depicted children as young as three years old engaged in sexual acts, highlighting the severity and depravity of the material involved.
During police interviews, Pratt admitted to the ongoing downloading of these images, describing his actions as an addiction. He reportedly told officers, “It’s like an addiction. I don’t even look at most of them but it’s just an addiction. You try not to and then you are sort of enticed back and you hate yourself. It has almost become a way of life to me but I hate it but I need it.” His confession underscored the compulsive nature of his behavior and the deep psychological struggle he faced.
Further court records revealed that Pratt’s involvement with such material began as early as 1997, when he first purchased a computer. At that time, he claimed to have become disgusted with himself and had disposed of the images. However, his participation in online groups sharing child abuse images persisted, and he eventually became part of a 30-member community on the internet that exchanged such material, which exacerbated his criminal activity.
Defense attorney Nicholas Jones highlighted the impact of Pratt’s arrest, stating that he, who had previously worked for the UK Border Agency, attempted to take his own life following his detention. Jones described Pratt as “a broken man who has ruined his life as a result of his addiction to Internet pornography.”
Judge Adele Williams addressed Pratt directly in court, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. She stated, “Those who download child pornography allow this evil trade to continue. There are real children being subjected to real sexual abuse in these images. Those who participate in this behaviour attract nothing but revulsion.”
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Sergeant David Shipley from the Child Exploitation Investigation Team at Kent Police condemned Pratt’s conduct, noting the large volume of material he possessed and his apparent pride in sharing it with others. He warned that such behavior perpetuates the abuse of children and that anyone involved in similar activities within Kent can expect to be apprehended and prosecuted by the Public Protection Unit.
Additionally, Peter Davies, Chief Executive of CEOP, praised the collaborative efforts that led to Pratt’s arrest, which was initiated through international cooperation. He reaffirmed the message that making or distributing child abuse material is a serious crime that will be met with swift justice. As part of his sentence, Pratt will be subject to a lifetime sexual offences prevention order, will have to sign the sex offender register indefinitely, and will be under supervision upon release, reflecting the ongoing threat posed by such offenders.