ARON MORTLOCK SENTENCED IN LEWISHAM AND HORLEY FOR REPEATED CHILD INDECENCY OFFENSES

In a case that has shocked the local community, Aron Mortlock, a 37-year-old resident of Waters Road in Lewisham, has been handed a significant prison sentence after being convicted of possessing and distributing indecent images of children. The proceedings unfolded over several months, culminating in a sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, 4 March, following his guilty plea at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 12 February.

Mortlock faced multiple serious charges, including three counts of creating indecent images of a child, one count of distributing such images, and an additional charge of attempting to facilitate or arrange a child sex offence. The court was informed that these offences were committed by a man who had previously been convicted of similar crimes, making this a second conviction for such offenses.

The investigation into Mortlock’s activities was initiated in September 2019 when police received intelligence indicating that a Category A indecent video of a child had been uploaded onto the internet. Further inquiries revealed that the upload had been carried out by Mortlock himself, who was already registered as a sex offender due to his prior conviction in May 2018 for making indecent images of children.

Following this discovery, authorities obtained a search warrant, leading to Mortlock’s arrest on Tuesday, 11 February, at his home address in Lewisham. During the raid, police seized several electronic devices, including a mobile phone and a hard drive, which contained a large collection of indecent images of children. The evidence found on these devices confirmed his involvement in both creating and distributing such material.

In a related case from June 2018, Mortlock, then 35 and living with his father in Horley on Court Lodge Road, narrowly avoided jail time after admitting to seven counts of making, distributing, and possessing indecent images of children. The court heard that police had seized his electronic devices, which contained hundreds of images and videos of children of all ages, including infants. These images had been exchanged via WhatsApp between May and December 2017, and searches on his devices indicated a continued obsession with such material.

During the sentencing, Judge Bruce Houlder described Mortlock as being “obsessed with the images,” emphasizing the severity of his actions. The court also noted that Mortlock, who is a father himself, had previously undergone mental health treatment, including a two-month hospital stay, and had attempted to take his own life. Despite these factors, the judge made it clear that Mortlock’s actions warranted a substantial penalty.

As a result, Mortlock was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for his latest offences. Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. The court also imposed a sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future conduct. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and creation of child exploitation material, and the serious consequences faced by those found guilty of such heinous crimes.