ANTHONY CHAPMAN FROM KETTERING CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE FILES IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the town of Kettering, Anthony Chapman, aged 60, was found to be in possession of highly illegal and depraved images of children. The incident came to light in November 2018 when authorities executed a search warrant at his residence on Brooksdale Close, situated within the Brambleside estate.

During the police raid, officers seized multiple electronic devices, including an iPhone, a laptop, and an external hard drive. These devices were subsequently subjected to detailed forensic analysis, revealing a disturbing collection of illicit files. In total, investigators uncovered 18 Category A files, which are classified as the most severe and depraved, including three videos. Additionally, there were 36 Category B files, also containing three videos, and a staggering 225 Category C files, with one video among them. All these files had been deleted, yet their creation dates spanned from January 2015 up until 6:14 a.m. on the morning of Chapman’s arrest.

Despite the clear evidence, Chapman attempted to deflect blame during police interviews. He claimed that the laptop in question belonged to his late father, who had passed away in 2014, and suggested that the files were somehow linked to his father’s device. He insisted he had never actively searched for or downloaded such material. However, forensic timelines indicated that the files had been created over a period of nearly four years after his father’s death, including one file created on the very morning he was taken into custody.

Prosecutor Jonathan Dunne outlined the case against Chapman, stating, “He said the laptop was his father’s laptop and rather suggested it was the fault of his father. His father had died in 2014.” Dunne further explained that Chapman admitted to occasionally visiting websites that contained such material but tried to portray these encounters as accidental rather than deliberate. Despite this, evidence from internet searches and chat logs painted a different picture.

Investigators found highly sexualized conversations on Kik messenger, where Chapman engaged in chats discussing the abuse of children. These exchanges demonstrated a disturbing level of intent and interest, contradicting his claims of innocence. The forensic report confirmed the presence of explicit chats with others online, further implicating him in the possession and distribution of child abuse material.

Chapman’s defense was ultimately unsuccessful. On July 6, at Northampton Crown Court, Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane sentenced him to a 24-month community order. As part of his sentence, Chapman was ordered to participate in rehabilitation programs aimed at addressing his behavior. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offender register for five years and subjected to a five-year sexual harm prevention order. This order restricts his access to electronic devices and prohibits him from working with children or vulnerable adults, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to the community of Kettering.