DANIEL HICKS FROM HORDLE CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN SOUTHAMPTON COURT

In January 2015, a disturbing case emerged involving Daniel Hicks, a resident of Hordle, who was found to possess a large collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light after authorities were alerted by CEOP, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, which prompted an investigation into Hicks's online activities.

Police officers seized Hicks's computer and iPhone during a raid, uncovering a shocking cache of over 500 sexual images. Further examination revealed that the total number of images stored on his devices exceeded 90,000, many of which depicted infants and toddlers in various states of undress, including some wearing nappies or completely naked. The graphic nature of these images underscored the severity of the offense and the potential harm inflicted upon the victims.

Daniel Hicks, aged 29 and residing on Stopples Lane in Hordle, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including eight counts of making indecent images of children and one count of distributing a single image. His guilty plea was accepted by the court, leading to a sentencing that, while not immediate imprisonment, included significant restrictions and supervision measures. Hicks was handed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period.

Additionally, Hicks was ordered to attend a specialized Internet sex offenders treatment programme, aimed at addressing his behaviour and preventing future offending. He was also placed under two years of supervision and was prohibited from working with children. To further restrict his access to harmful material and interactions, he was placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and subject to a sex offenders prevention order. This order limits his internet access and prevents him from being left unsupervised with children, reflecting the court’s concern for public safety.

During the sentencing, Judge Peter Henry emphasized the gravity of Hicks’s actions, stating, “You know how repulsive these images are. I hope you now realize what damage will have been done to those children. They are the real victims in this case. To read a description of the images is enough to turn a stomach.” The judge’s remarks highlighted the profound impact such material has on victims and the importance of holding offenders accountable.

In mitigation, Timothy Akers, representing Hicks, explained that Hicks had lost his job as a shop worker following the discovery of his offending. Akers revealed that Hicks had admitted during police interviews that he was sexually aroused by viewing the images while under the influence of cannabis and cocaine. He described Hicks’s behaviour as spiraling into a vicious cycle, where feelings of guilt after drug use led to further drug consumption and continued viewing of the images, perpetuating his problematic behaviour. This context was considered by the court but did not diminish the seriousness of the offences committed by Hicks.