ANTHONY TURNER SENTENCED IN HEMEL HEMPSTEAD FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN
On February 22, 2019, a man identified as Anthony Turner was formally sentenced to a total of seven years in prison following his conviction on multiple serious charges related to sexual offences involving minors.The sentencing took place at Luton Crown Court, where the court heard detailed accounts of Turner's criminal conduct, which spanned over several years and involved exploitation, abduction, and the possession of indecent images of children.
Anthony Turner, aged 31 and formerly residing at Camden House on Marlowes in Hemel Hempstead, pleaded guilty to a series of charges that included two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, one count of child abduction, and multiple counts related to the possession and distribution of indecent images.
Specifically, he admitted to possessing Category A images and videos, which are classified as the most serious, as well as taking and sharing images categorized as C, and possessing a mixture of Category B and C images and videos.
Additionally, Turner was found to have been in possession of cannabis, which was also part of the charges.
The court proceedings revealed that Turner had established a relationship with his primary victim, a vulnerable teenage boy, in Hemel Hempstead during June 2016.
Over the course of their interactions, Turner provided the young boy with various gifts, including money, alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, clothing, and food.
He also offered lifts in his vehicle and, on one occasion, persuaded the boy to sit on his lap while he was in the driver's seat.
Turner encouraged the victim to visit his flat, where they played video games into the early hours and even slept in his bed.
During these visits, Turner supplied the boy with cannabis and alcohol, which led to the victim passing out.
Tragically, Turner sexually assaulted the boy while he was unconscious and took indecent images of him during this time.
These images were subsequently shared with others via messaging apps.
The abuse extended beyond Hemel Hempstead when the victim was placed in a care home in Lancashire.
Turner traveled to the care home on June 26, 2016, and abducted the boy, driving him back to his flat in Hemel Hempstead, where the abuse continued.
The police arrested Turner on June 29, 2016, following intelligence reports about his inappropriate conduct with the victim.
During the investigation, authorities seized Turner's electronic devices and examined their contents.
The analysis uncovered nearly 400 indecent images and videos of children, including 55 classified as Category A, the most severe category.
Among these images were photographs of the victim, some dating back to 2011.
Further investigation revealed the existence of a second victim, a 13-year-old boy, who was also subjected to abuse.
Turner had again used alcohol to incapacitate the second victim before taking indecent images of him while he was unconscious.
In addition to the prison sentence, Turner was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
This order imposes strict conditions designed to prevent further offences, including restrictions on owning or using devices with internet access unless approved and monitored by authorities, prohibitions on tampering with security software, and limitations on communication with minors.
Turner is also prohibited from deleting or altering his internet history or using private browsing functions.
He cannot own devices capable of storing images unless they are made available to officers upon request, nor can he communicate with or be alone with children under 18 without supervision and prior approval.
Furthermore, Turner’s name will be entered onto the Sex Offenders’ Register until further notice.
He has also been ordered to pay a victim surcharge as part of his sentencing.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions in Hemel Hempstead and beyond.
