MILTON KEYNES MAN GABRIEL MAY JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES DISCOVERED IN MILTON KEYNES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Milton Keynes, Gabriel May, a 29-year-old man with aspirations of becoming a journalist, was sentenced to prison after admitting to the possession and download of a staggering number of child abuse images. The court heard that May’s actions came to light after a routine computer repair in Milton Keynes, which uncovered a horrifying collection of illicit material organized into folders on his device.

May’s arrest was triggered when a technician at Milton Keynes-based IT services company, Counter-Act Systems, examined his computer. During the inspection, the technician accessed a desktop folder that was not password protected, revealing images of a naked young girl estimated to be around eight years old. This discovery led to May’s immediate detention and subsequent police investigation.

Further investigations revealed that May had downloaded a total of 7,262 child abuse images, with some classified at the most severe level five, indicating the most explicit and disturbing content. Additionally, 1,297 images were classified at level four. The police also uncovered that May had been actively downloading more illicit images while on bail, which was granted after his initial arrest in October 2010. A total of 837 additional images were found on a second computer, also linked to May, located in Mitchell Place, Bradwell Common.

May initially claimed that his interest in child abuse images was purely research-driven, intended to understand how easily such material could be accessed online. He stated that he wanted to write an article highlighting the dangers and accessibility of such content. However, the court was told that his intentions were superficial, as he only managed to write a brief two-paragraph piece and never completed or published the article.

Prosecutor Nilam Sahl emphasized that May’s actions demonstrated a clear addiction to pornography, with evidence showing he viewed such material most days of the week. May admitted to being addicted and to viewing all types of pornography, including child abuse images. He explained that he came across the images accidentally and became curious about how easy it was to find more. Despite his claims of research, the evidence indicated that his interest quickly spiraled into a compulsive and secretive habit.

In mitigation, defense lawyer Laban Leake highlighted May’s academic background, noting that he held both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Lincoln University. Leake suggested that May’s initial motivation was to make a significant impact as a journalist, but his addiction to pornography ultimately derailed his ambitions. The lawyer also pointed out that May suffers from psychosis and depression, conditions that require ongoing treatment and rehabilitation to prevent further destructive behavior.

Leake further explained that May’s possession of the images was not for dissemination but for personal use, and that he did not attempt to conceal his activities. The court was told that May’s parents had already been coping with his mental health issues and now faced the additional burden of his criminal behavior and registration as a sex offender.

Judge Francis Sheridan delivered a stern sentence, describing the images as among the worst he had ever encountered, particularly noting the organized nature of the folders and the disturbing content involving young children. The judge acknowledged May’s early guilty plea and his high intelligence but emphasized that his actions had caused significant harm. Sheridan stated, “Rather than writing the big story, you have become the big story, tragically for those children.”

May was sentenced to two years in prison, ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years, and was prohibited from working with or having contact with children. Additionally, he was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order that strictly limited his internet use, aiming to prevent further offenses and protect potential victims in Milton Keynes and beyond.