DALE WITTS OF CHILCOMPTON SENTENCED AFTER TAKING INAPPROPRIATE PHOTOS OF TEENAGE GIRL

In August 2010, Dale Witts, a 37-year-old man from Wells Road, Chilcompton, was sentenced after admitting to taking inappropriate photographs of a teenage girl. Witts took three pictures of the girl using a camera phone, intending to help her create a portfolio for a modelling agency. The court was told that he destroyed the images almost immediately without anyone else seeing them, but later confessed to taking indecent photographs of a child.

Judge Ewan Ambrose explained that the girl had asked for Witts's assistance and was a willing participant in the photo session. However, the judge emphasized that her age made this of relatively small consequence. He stated, “In the context of indecent images of children, they were at the 'least offensive end of the spectrum,' and there was no suggestion that there was anything more to the offence.”

The judge acknowledged Witts’s clean criminal record and noted, “You have never been in any sort of trouble before and it’s said you will not be back in court again and I’m inclined to think that’s correct,” adding, “You pleaded guilty and were entirely frank with the police from the word go.”

As a result, Witts was sentenced to an 18-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years. He was also ordered to pay £600 towards prosecution costs of £1,150. The identity of the girl cannot be revealed for legal reasons.