EMILIO BELLO FROM BURNHAM ESCAPES JAIL AFTER VIEWING INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN IN READING

In a case that has drawn significant attention, Emilio Bello, a resident of Burnham, faced serious allegations related to the possession of indecent images of children. The incident dates back to 2010, when police discovered a troubling collection of over 1,500 photographs on his two computers, which were seized from his home on Hazelhurst Road. These images varied in severity, with the majority depicting young boys, and some showing very young children or toddlers.

During the proceedings at Reading Crown Court in November 2012, Bello, now aged 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of making indecent images. The court heard that his actions stemmed from a period of personal confusion and curiosity about his sexuality, which reportedly began around the age of 14. His defense lawyer, Daren Samat, explained that Bello's offenses were driven by suppressed feelings he had harbored from an early age, leading to a state of internal conflict and curiosity that ultimately resulted in the viewing of these images.

The court was informed that Bello had started searching for such images online as early as 2004, and continued this behavior over a span of six years. When police officers executed a search warrant at his residence, they found 1,547 images on one computer and 74 on the other. Initially, Bello was arrested and chose not to comment during his police interview. However, several months later, he voluntarily returned for another interview, during which he admitted that he had previously hesitated to speak because he was not yet 'out of the closet.'

He expressed feelings of guilt, stating that he believed he had let his family down by being a homosexual man. Despite the disturbing nature of some images, Bello maintained that he did not intentionally seek out child pornography and claimed that any images he downloaded accidentally were promptly deleted. The court was also told that Bello was actively pursuing a master's degree at the time of sentencing, and that his family and partner had submitted letters attesting to his character and the positive aspects of his life.

In sentencing, Bello was not sent to prison. Instead, he received a community order with a requirement to be under supervision for three years. Additionally, he was ordered to pay costs amounting to £535. As part of his sentence, Bello was also required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for a period of five years and to provide certain personal details to his local police station under notification obligations. The decision to avoid imprisonment was met with applause from members of the public gathered in the court gallery, reflecting a complex public reaction to the case and its sentencing.