BRIAN GERRARD FROM TROWBRIDGE JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN WILTSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, Brian Gerrard, aged 56, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the possession and distribution of graphic child pornography. The court proceedings revealed that Gerrard had downloaded over 11,000 explicit images depicting minors between the years 1999 and September 2003, a period spanning several years during which he engaged in these illicit activities.

It was disclosed during the trial that Gerrard exploited his partner's credit card to fund his disturbing collection of images. His partner, who is described as dyslexic, was unaware of the transactions, which Gerrard deliberately concealed from her. The court was informed that Gerrard used her card because he knew she would have difficulty reading her bank statements, thus making it easier for him to hide his illegal activities.

Gerrard faced multiple charges, including 20 counts of making child pornography and one count of possession. He admitted to all charges and was subsequently sentenced to nine months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of five years, a measure intended to monitor and prevent further offenses.

The court heard that Gerrard was an undischarged bankrupt at the time of his crimes and did not possess any credit cards of his own. His defense team presented mitigating circumstances, explaining that Gerrard and his partner had recently suffered the tragic loss of a child after enduring months of costly fertility treatments, which had also resulted in the loss of their family home. The emotional toll of these events was emphasized during the trial.

Mark Ruffell, Gerrard’s defense barrister, stated in court: “That destroyed them both and it made him immensely bitter. He couldn’t take it out on his wife because it was not her fault. He found himself thinking about his own desires in a way he had not ever done before.”

In light of these circumstances, Judge John McNaught decided to reduce Gerrard’s sentence from the initial 12 months to nine months for each count, with all sentences to run concurrently. The ruling reflects a recognition of the complex personal issues involved, but also underscores the severity of the crimes committed by Gerrard in the Wiltshire community.