DERRICK LODGE FROM DUFFIELD JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In June 2013, Derrick Lodge, a long-standing scout leader from Duffield with over 30 years of involvement in the community, was sentenced to prison after authorities uncovered disturbing child abuse images on his personal computer. The case drew significant attention due to the nature of the material and Lodge's prominent role within local youth organizations.

According to court records, Lodge, aged 54, admitted to possessing a total of 33 indecent images. Among these, six depicted children engaged in sexual acts, categorizing them as particularly serious under the child pornography classification system. The discovery of these images was made possible when Lodge took his computer to a repair shop in January. Staff at the shop, upon examining the device, found the illicit images and promptly alerted law enforcement authorities.

Police officers responded swiftly, seizing the hard drives and the computer tower from Lodge’s residence located in Old Mill Close. During his arrest, Lodge explained to investigators that he believed the images appeared as pop-up notifications, which he was unable to delete due to his self-described disorganization with computers. Despite his claims, the evidence was clear, and he faced multiple charges.

At Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court, Lodge pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing indecent images. The court heard that he had been involved with various Scout groups in Duffield and also served on the organizing committee of the Duffield Carnival. His longstanding community involvement was acknowledged, but the court emphasized the gravity of his actions.

Judge Joanne Alderson sentenced Lodge to 18 weeks in prison. Additionally, she ordered him to register as a sex offender for the next seven years. In her remarks, the judge expressed her concern: “While I recognize the positive contributions you have made to the community over the years, I am deeply troubled by the fact that during your time in the Scout movement, you possessed and viewed these disgusting and depraved images. Six of the 33 images were classified as category four, which is the second most serious level of child pornography, depicting sexual activity involving children. This is extremely disturbing. Viewing such images perpetuates the exploitation of children repeatedly.”

Prosecutor Lynn Manning detailed the investigation, stating, “The staff at the repair shop discovered numerous images of young children on the hard drive and alerted police. During interviews, Lodge claimed he used the computer to access chat rooms and believed the images arrived as pop-ups, which he could not delete. He also stated he was disorganized with computers, which might explain why the images remained on his hard drive.”

Defense attorney Stacey White argued that Lodge was the sole user of his computer and had not shared any of the offending images. She also highlighted his long-standing involvement in the community, noting that he was released from his role in the Scout movement following his arrest and that he had worked as an engineer for 20 years before losing his job in August 2012. Lodge also cared for his elderly mother, which was mentioned as part of his personal circumstances.

Following the sentencing, Nigel Hooker, a member of the Duffield Carnival organizing committee, expressed regret over the case, stating, “The court has delivered its verdict. We are sorry to see that child pornography is an issue in society, and we do not condone such behavior.”

In response, a representative from the Scout Association reaffirmed their strict vetting procedures for adults working with young people. The organization confirmed that Lodge would no longer be permitted to participate in any capacity within the Scout movement, emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding children and maintaining high standards of conduct among volunteers and staff.