BRISTOL AND SLOUGH DOCTOR ANTHONY ATKINS FACES JAIL OVER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the academic and local communities, Dr. Anthony Atkins, aged 36, formerly residing in Cotham Park, Bristol, and now living in Slough, Berkshire, has been convicted of possessing indecent images of children. The incident came to light after Atkins, who had recently begun a new position in the English department at Bristol University in October 1997, was found to have downloaded numerous inappropriate images from the internet.

It was a colleague at Bristol University who first discovered some of these images on a computer used by Atkins. Concerned by the content, the colleague promptly alerted university authorities, prompting an investigation into the matter. Prosecutor Robert Davies explained that Atkins attempted to cover his tracks by wiping the computer’s memory before law enforcement officials could seize the device. Despite this, investigators managed to recover a cache of approximately 900 pornographic images stored in the computer’s temporary memory, which Atkins was unaware of having stored.

Among these images, most depicted adults, but a disturbing 174 involved children. Some of the images showed children engaged in sexual activities with adults, raising serious concerns about the nature of the material Atkins had accessed. The police seized a computer used by Atkins and found these images during their investigation.

During the court proceedings, Atkins’s defense lawyer, Helen Malcolm, argued that her client’s interest in the material was rooted in a sociological curiosity about childhood development and sexuality. She explained that Atkins, who had studied book history and film production, viewed the internet as an extension of his academic interests. In support of her argument, Atkins presented evidence indicating that he was researching the sociology of specific groups, and he admitted that he could not always verify the nature of the material sent to him through online news groups he was investigating. Atkins expressed to the court that he was “shocked and disgusted” by some of the images that appeared on his screen.

Despite these explanations, the magistrates found Atkins guilty of 10 counts of possessing child pornography. Magistrate William Kennedy, who presided over the case, imposed a fine of £3,000 on Atkins. He emphasized that there was no justification or necessity for retaining such images under any circumstances. Magistrate Kennedy, a Cambridge graduate who had also worked at Reading University and had received scholarships to study in America, acknowledged Atkins’s academic achievements and reputation, describing him as an “enormous stature” in his field. He expressed regret that such a distinguished individual was involved in this case, stating, “I am sorry for you and your family to see you here today.”

In his remarks, Mr. Kennedy referenced a quote from D.H. Lawrence about a child “awakened too soon,” but he clarified that the law does not support the premature exposure of children to such knowledge. The magistrate ordered Atkins to report to police authorities to have his name entered onto the Sex Offenders Register. Furthermore, as a consequence of his actions, Atkins was dismissed from his academic position following an internal disciplinary process, marking a significant professional and personal setback for the once-respected scholar.