GARY CHARTERS FROM CARRICKFERGUS SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE DOWNLOADS IN BELFAST

In a recent court ruling, Gary Charters, a resident of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, was sentenced to three months in prison after being convicted of possessing and downloading explicit images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The charges against him stem from an investigation that uncovered his involvement in creating and viewing such illicit material between January 14 and April 22, 2008.

Charters, aged 25 at the time, appeared in Belfast Crown Court where he was visibly emotional, weeping in the dock as the sentence was handed down. In addition to his imprisonment, he is required to register as a sex offender for the next seven years, a measure aimed at monitoring and preventing further offenses.

The case was brought to light during an unrelated investigation into alleged fraudulent activities. Police officers executed a raid on a computer that was no longer in active use, which led to the discovery of the illegal content. A forensic examination of the seized device revealed 21 still images and four video files that depicted children being subjected to sexual abuse, a finding that significantly contributed to the conviction.

Furthermore, the court imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order that will remain in effect for seven years. This order prohibits Charters from owning or accessing any internet-enabled devices unless they are equipped with monitoring software, thereby restricting his ability to access similar material in the future. The case underscores ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child abuse images, especially within communities like Carrickfergus and the wider County Antrim area.