ST NEOTS MAN CLIVE HEMMING SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE

In March 2019, a man from St Neots, Clive Hemming, faced legal proceedings after being found in possession of indecent images of children. Hemming, who resides on Marquis Close in Eaton Socon, appeared before Cambridge Magistrates' Court to answer charges related to the possession of various categories of child pornography.

Hemming, aged 61, had previously pleaded guilty to the possession of images classified as Category A, B, and C, which depict different levels of explicit content involving minors. His appearance in court marked a significant step in the ongoing investigation into his activities.

The magistrates sentenced Hemming to a 24-month community order, a decision that reflects the court’s assessment of his circumstances and the nature of his offenses. As part of his sentence, he is required to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, emphasizing the rehabilitative approach taken by the justice system.

Additionally, Hemming was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that will remain in effect for five years. This order prohibits him from having any contact with individuals under the age of 18, aiming to prevent any potential future harm. Furthermore, he will be registered on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of five years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

The court proceedings revealed that Hemming had engaged in online interactions with a woman named Emily through an internet chat room. During their conversations, Emily disclosed that she had been abused as a child and was seeking to locate indecent images and videos of herself from when she was 10 years old. She confided in Hemming about her past and asked for his assistance.

Hemming agreed to help Emily and downloaded the requested images, which he stored in a zip file. Acting on intelligence gathered by authorities, police officers from the Cambridgeshire Police Paedophile Online Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at Hemming’s residence in St Neots. During the search, they confiscated his laptop and mobile phone for examination.

The investigation uncovered a disturbing collection of images: one Category A image, three Category B images, and fifteen Category C images. These findings confirmed the severity of the offense and the risk posed by Hemming’s possession of such material.

Magistrate Alan Jones addressed Hemming directly during the sentencing, stating, “You are a man who clearly recognises that you have done something wrong. The prosecution has explained the context of what has happened and it was naivety on your part. Therefore I think it needs to be dealt with in the community.”

Hemming was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of the same amount, reflecting the court’s stance on the importance of accountability and justice in cases involving child exploitation.