CLIVE EVANS WALKED FREE IN MAIDSTONE DESPITE CHILD SEX OFFENDER OFFENCES

In March 2018, Clive Evans, a man previously convicted of child sex offences, was unexpectedly released after a judge deemed him suitable for a sex offender rehabilitation program, despite his prior criminal history.

Evans, who was 56 years old at the time, had been sentenced to two years in prison at Norwich Crown Court in May 2014 for downloading distasteful child sex abuse images. Following his conviction, he was placed under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

However, shortly after his release, Maidstone Crown Court was informed that he committed further offences. In February of the previous year, Kent Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team raided his residence on Seal Road, Sevenoaks, confiscating his computer equipment.

During the investigation, officers uncovered 453 images and videos that depicted sexual activity involving children at varying levels of seriousness, including graphic and extreme images of adults engaging in sex with animals. Clive Evans admitted to four offences related to taking indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornographic content, possessing prohibited images of children, and distributing indecent images of minors.

He was subsequently sentenced to 12 months in prison, which was suspended for two years, on the condition that he attend a sex offenders’ program.

Further details, reported in June 2014, revealed that Evans was leading a secret double life. A married man, living in The Causeway, Stowbridge, near King’s Lynn, with a wife, mortgage, two adult sons, and a job offshore, had a disturbing sexual interest in children, as described by Judge Nicholas Coleman.

Authorities had seized computer devices and cameras from his home and discovered over 6,000 indecent images stored across two hard drives. Evans pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including possessing indecent images of children and animals, and sharing explicit material online.

Prosecutor Chris Youell explained that Evans collected these images from around the world via online communication with other paedophiles, often exchanging images much like trading cards. Evidence included a 300-page chat transcript from Skype, used by Evans during offshore work, where he discussed his sexual interests.

It was noted that Evans maintained a relationship with his wife who was unaware of his activities, and he interacted with other users on various websites. During conversations, Evans and others referred to themselves as “paedophile boyfriend,” and his images had been uploaded to a password-protected website.

Defence lawyer Andrew Cogan expressed Evans’ remorse, stating he was “disgusted” with himself, had promised not to reoffend, and wished he had involved authorities earlier. He also highlighted the potential consequences for Evans’ wife, who was 32, unemployed, and burdened by a significant mortgage.

However, Judge Coleman dismissed these claims, emphasizing that Evans was in denial about the danger he posed. Addressing Evans directly, the judge said, “This case highlights the clearly deeply troubling world inhabited by those with paedophile tendencies.”

He continued, “You are, as the prosecution rightly pointed out, leading a double life. On the one hand, you have a relationship with your wife and work as an offshore worker, but you have what can only be described as a chilling sexual interest in children.”

The judge rejected Evans’ alleged intentions to seek help, stating, “There is not a shred of evidence that you had any intention,” and sentenced him to 32 months in prison. Evans was also subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), and his laptop was to be forfeited and destroyed.