BENJAMIN WARD OF RAINHAM CAUGHT WITH HORRIFIC ANIMAL AND CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In November 2012, Benjamin Ward, a man known locally for running gaming clubs for teenagers in Rainham, was revealed to have a deeply disturbing secret that spanned over a decade. His partner, upon discovering the extent of his sickening collection, reported him to the police and subsequently evicted him from their home on Readerscroft Road in Rainham.

Ward, who was actively involved in organizing a Gamers' Guild club at the Rainham Community Centre every Tuesday night, had amassed an appalling collection of indecent images. Investigations uncovered that he had downloaded and stored more than 10,000 images depicting children in sexual acts, along with approximately 1,000 video clips. His disturbing interests extended beyond images of children; he also viewed extreme pornography involving both live and deceased animals, including dogs and horses, which he kept secret for many years.

Despite the severity of his actions, Ward, aged 46 at the time, narrowly avoided imprisonment. Judge David Griffith-Jones sentenced him to a suspended prison term, emphasizing the importance of treatment for his perverted tendencies. The court proceedings revealed that Ward’s deviant behavior had become so uncontrollable that he rented a storage unit in Gillingham Business Park to hide his growing collection of illicit material.

His troubling obsession first surfaced in 1998 when his partner’s daughter discovered images on his computer. Ward had promised to seek help and attempt to cure himself of his disturbing fixation. However, his efforts proved futile, and his obsession persisted into the new millennium. Eventually, he confided in his brother, a psychotherapist, who advised him to disclose his issues to his partner. Ward did so, and after being given four hours to leave their shared home, his partner contacted the police.

Following his arrest, Ward cooperated fully with law enforcement authorities, leading them directly to his extensive collection of illegal images. He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to 12 counts, which included possession and creation of indecent and extreme images. These counts comprised two charges related to images depicting sexual acts with animals, six counts involving images of children—including video clips—and four counts of producing indecent images of children.

His defense lawyer, Simon Wickens, explained that Ward’s early exposure to sexual activity, which some might interpret as a form of abuse, had significantly influenced his psychological development. Wickens noted that this early trauma contributed to Ward’s obsession with child pornography. Prior to these events, Ward was regarded as a man of good character, with a successful career in the computing industry. Since admitting his problems, he had actively sought help through organizations such as the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and attended meetings of Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA). In a positive turn, Ward had even established his own SAA support group to assist others struggling with similar issues.

At the sentencing hearing, Ward appeared visibly distressed, with grey hair tied up and dressed in a red fleece over his shirt and tie. Judge Griffith-Jones acknowledged the gravity of the images, which were classified as category four on a scale of one to five, but also recognized mitigating factors. The judge stated that Ward had shown genuine remorse and that his actions were partly a result of his own disclosure and desire to address his deviant thoughts.

Ultimately, the judge sentenced Ward to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, and imposed a two-year supervision order. Additionally, Ward was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he posed.