ANTHONY HACKETT FROM AUDNAM, STOURBRIDGE, SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In November 2013, Anthony Hackett, a resident of Audnam in Stourbridge, was sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of possessing and downloading explicit images of children. The case drew significant attention due to Hackett's prior convictions and the serious nature of his offenses.

Hackett, aged 37 at the time, had previously received a suspended prison sentence in 2012 for creating pornographic images involving minors. Alongside this, he was subject to a Supervision Order and a Sex Offenders Protection Order, which were intended to monitor and restrict his activities to prevent further offenses. Despite these measures, Hackett breached the conditions of his supervision, leading to his immediate imprisonment for 18 weeks.

Following his release, authorities conducted a routine check at his residence in Audnam, a locality within Stourbridge, to ensure compliance with the existing orders. During this visit, police discovered that Hackett had downloaded additional indecent images onto his mobile device, a violation that resulted in his re-arrest and subsequent sentencing.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Martin Walsh addressed Hackett directly, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions and his criminal history. The judge stated, “The aggravating feature in this case is your antecedent history. The downloading of these images is not a victimless crime. These children are subjected to real sexual abuse.” He further criticized Hackett for failing to take advantage of available counseling opportunities in the community, which could have potentially mitigated his behavior.

Judge Walsh issued a stern warning, indicating that if Hackett continued to engage in such criminal activities, the prison sentences he faced would become increasingly severe. The court also mandated that Hackett register as a sex offender for the next ten years and imposed a new seven-year Sex Offenders Protection Order to further restrict his conduct.

During the trial, Hackett denied two charges of making indecent images of children. However, after a jury deliberated and considered the evidence presented, they found him guilty. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims from sexual abuse.