CHRISTOPHER ARNO BEXLEYHEATH MAN WALKING FREE AFTER CHILD PORN DOWNLOADS COURT

On November 24th, 2011, a disturbing case involving a young man from Bexleyheath came to light in the Southwark Crown Court. Christopher Arno, aged 21, was found to have downloaded a significant collection of child pornography onto a computer that was kept at his grandmother’s residence in Birchington Close. The material he possessed was not only extensive but also deeply disturbing, comprising a total of 874 images and videos. Among these, more than 200 were classified at the highest levels of severity, indicating the most explicit and harmful content.

Arno had previously pleaded guilty to 13 counts of making indecent images earlier in the year, acknowledging his involvement in the possession of such material. During the court proceedings, prosecutor Peter Lancaster described Arno’s explanation for his actions, stating, “He said it was just something he did to pass the time and he did not know why he did it.” This comment was met with concern by the court, given the nature of the material involved.

The police investigation was initiated in May when officers executed a raid on Arno’s home in Birchington Close. During the search, they seized his computer, which contained the illicit collection. The court was informed that the images and videos depicted children as young as ten years old, highlighting the grave severity of the case.

On November 23rd, Judge Alistair McCreath delivered his verdict. Recognizing the heinous nature of the material and the potential risks posed by Arno’s actions, the judge opted for a community-based sentence rather than immediate imprisonment. Arno was sentenced to a 12-month community order, which includes full probation supervision throughout the period. Additionally, he was ordered to attend a specialized internet sexual offending programme designed to address and mitigate such behaviors.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge McCreath emphasized the repulsive nature of the images, stating, “These images are not just of harm done to children but they are in themselves revolting and right-thinking people are themselves revolted.” He expressed concern about the potential consequences of imprisonment, warning that a short prison sentence could, paradoxically, worsen Arno’s situation by exposing him to other offenders, including paedophiles and sex offenders, which could reinforce his harmful tendencies.

Furthermore, Arno was subjected to a five-year sexual offences prevention order. This order prohibits him from accessing the internet on any device capable of recording browsing history and explicitly bans him from deleting any internet history, thereby ensuring ongoing monitoring of his online activity. The measures aim to prevent any future access to illegal material and to protect the community from potential reoffending.