GARY PRINCE FAREHAM POLICE OFFICER'S CHILD SEX OFFENDING SHAMES LOCAL COMMUNITY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Fareham, Hampshire, a serving police officer was found to have been involved in the distribution and possession of indecent images of children. The incident came to light through a meticulous undercover operation, which traced the online activities of an individual sharing such illicit material. The court proceedings revealed that Gary Prince, aged 49, who had served in the police force for over two decades, was the individual behind the disturbing online activity.

Prince, who was at the time working as an area car driver in Fareham, was identified after investigators tracked down a user on a file sharing network. This user had been actively sharing numerous images depicting child abuse, and the investigation successfully linked this activity back to Prince. Unbeknownst to him, he had been engaging with an undercover officer during these exchanges, a fact that was revealed during the court hearing. The court was informed that Prince had been unaware of the undercover operation targeting his online behavior.

Further details disclosed that Prince had a significant collection of illegal material stored on his computer. The police discovered more than 500 moving images and over 2,000 photographs of children involved in sexual abuse. These images and videos were not only stored on his device but had also been shared with at least 12 other individuals, indicating a disturbing level of distribution. The offences spanned a period from 2008 to 2012, highlighting a prolonged engagement in such illicit activities.

Among the evidence presented was a screenshot found on Prince’s laptop depicting a young girl, estimated to be around ten years old, being sexually abused by a man claiming to be her father and asserting that he was in America. The court heard that Prince had played an active role in facilitating this abuse, directing the activity between the alleged abuser and the young girl through a video link. This revelation added to the gravity of his offences.

During police interviews, Prince admitted his involvement and disclosed that he had a particular interest in girls aged between seven and eleven. He also confessed to creating multiple online profiles, including one where he pretended to be an eleven-year-old girl. His guilty plea covered multiple charges, including three counts of distributing indecent images of children, three counts of possessing such images, one charge of taking an indecent image of a child, and another of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

In mitigation, James Bloomer, representing Prince, emphasized that his client had no prior convictions and had taken steps to address his behavior through counseling. He highlighted that Prince had been open about his actions with friends and family, and reports indicated he was not attempting to justify or excuse his conduct. Bloomer also noted that Prince was described by those close to him as “the world’s best father,” which added a complex layer to the case.

Judge Iain Pearson acknowledged the early guilty plea, remorse shown by Prince, and his efforts to seek treatment for his addiction to indecent images. Nevertheless, the court sentenced him to three years in prison and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. Additionally, Prince was disqualified from working with children indefinitely, and the court mandated the destruction of his computer and all related images.

Detective Inspector Richard Wheeler, of the Paedophile and Online Investigation Team, expressed his disappointment and emphasized the breach of trust involved. He stated, “While none of the offences are linked to Prince’s role as a police officer, he was trusted by colleagues and the public, and he has let them down. We must remember that every one of the thousands of images in Prince’s possession was an image of a child being subjected to abuse.” The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Fareham, raising serious concerns about safeguarding and the responsibilities of those sworn to protect the public.