GARY ASHBY FROM CHATHAM AND WROTHAM HEATH JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Gary Ashby, a man with connections to both Chatham and Wrotham Heath, has been convicted and sentenced for possessing and distributing indecent images of children. His criminal activities have shocked the local communities and prompted strict legal actions to prevent further offenses.

Back in March 2013, Ashby, then 35 years old and unemployed, was given a suspended sentence of 12 months by magistrates after being found in possession of over 1,100 indecent images of children. During his sentencing, Ashby claimed that his actions were not driven by sexual gratification but rather by a misguided attempt to identify and stop others involved in such illegal activities. He stated, “There was no intention of gratification. I found these people on the site and wanted to stop them doing what they were doing.”

Despite this claim, Ashby’s criminal record grew darker. On November 26, 2015, authorities conducted a raid at his registered address, a caravan located at Ford Place, Ford Road, Wrotham Heath. This address was registered as his residence as a sex offender. The police investigation was initiated after they linked Ashby to a Twitter account through which he had downloaded and uploaded images. During the raid, officers seized an iPad, a laptop, and a smartphone, all of which contained indecent images. The total number of images found was 96, categorized into different levels of severity: one in the highest category, two in the next most serious, and 93 in the lowest category.

In a previous case, Ashby had posed as a 13-year-old girl using the alias Jessica Rabbit13 to set up a fake online account. Police investigations revealed that he had downloaded hundreds of images, including one depicting a three-year-old being raped. Authorities also found that Ashby had used social media to upload images, further implicating him in the possession and distribution of child exploitation material.

During his court appearance at Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Charles Macdonald QC sentenced Ashby to six months in prison. The judge acknowledged that Ashby had received positive references, but emphasized that this was his second conviction for similar offenses. “Offending of this sort calls for a deterrent sentence,” the judge stated. He also highlighted Ashby’s lack of insight into the severity of his actions, describing him as a continuing risk to children. The court’s decision mandated immediate custody, and Ashby’s name will be entered onto the sex offenders’ register for seven years. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was issued, prohibiting him from working with children under 16 and vulnerable adults for the same period.

Earlier in November 2016, Ashby appeared before magistrates in Medway, where he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children. At that time, he was 34 and residing at Ford Place, Wrotham Heath. Police found a total of 1,135 images on his laptop, including seven in the more serious level two and 19 in level three categories. Ashby had previously claimed that his actions were an attempt to frame other perverts, asserting, “There was no intention of gratification. I found these people on the site and wanted to stop them doing what they were doing.” He also expressed remorse, stating, “I made a mistake, I went about it completely the wrong way, I made a bad judgement, it’s ruined my life, I’ve lost my job, I’ve really shot myself in the foot. I am not a sick individual, none of this was ever done to get a thrill or for sexual gratification.”

However, his criminal behavior persisted. In the most recent case, Ashby was charged with four counts of possessing indecent images. He pleaded guilty to all charges in court, with the images classified from Category A to C, with Category C being the least serious. The case was adjourned and transferred to Maidstone Crown Court for sentencing. Ashby was granted bail under strict conditions, including a ban on possessing devices capable of internet access and restrictions on using social media platforms such as Twitter.

These cases underscore the ongoing threat posed by individuals like Gary Ashby, whose actions have led to significant legal consequences and ongoing monitoring to protect vulnerable members of society from exploitation and harm.