DAMIEN THORNE FROM HASTINGS JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEX OFFENSES
In a significant case that has shocked the community of Hastings, Damien Thorne, a 48-year-old man with a troubling criminal history, was sentenced to prison after being caught in possession of indecent images of children and possessing items linked to child exploitation.Thorne, a former karate instructor residing on Chapel Park Road in Hastings, was apprehended in September of the previous year while riding his bicycle along Carlisle Parade.
The incident occurred late at night when police officers, conducting routine checks, stopped Thorne after he flashed a light directly into their faces, prompting suspicion.
During the stop and search, officers discovered two key fobs in Thorne’s possession, both bearing images of young boys.
This discovery raised immediate concerns, leading to a thorough search of his residence.
The subsequent search of Thorne’s flat uncovered a significant amount of indecent material, including over 150 images depicting children in explicit contexts.
Thorne was taken into custody and subsequently pleaded guilty to 14 counts of making indecent images of children.
In addition, he requested that 145 other related charges be taken into account during sentencing.
The court was informed that Thorne had a long history of sexual offenses involving minors, with previous convictions for similar crimes committed in Eastbourne, Crawley, and London.
His criminal record includes a total of 21 convictions related to sex offenses against boys.
Hove Crown Court sentenced Thorne to 18 months in prison for his current offenses.
Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and was prohibited from owning or using any computer equipment, a measure aimed at preventing further offenses.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and highlights the importance of vigilance within communities to protect vulnerable minors from predatory individuals like Damien Thorne.
