GEORGE KEMP FROM BINGLEY AND KEIGHLEY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOR

In April 2007, a disturbing case involving George Kemp, a man with a troubling history, came to light in Bradford Crown Court. The 62-year-old, who has connections to both Bingley and Keighley, was found guilty of possessing indecent images of children and engaging in bizarre, sexually deviant behavior involving mannequins.

The case was initiated after a housing officer visited Kemp’s rented flat in Keighley following reports of flooding in the building. During the inspection, the officer noticed two mannequins hanging from the ceiling above Kemp’s bed. These mannequins had been modified to display male and female genitalia, and one was dressed as a schoolboy while the other resembled a schoolgirl. The officer also observed a poster depicting a boy and girl in swimwear, which heightened her concern about the nature of Kemp’s interests.

Alarmed by these findings, the officer contacted the police, leading to a search of Kemp’s residence. The police uncovered a collection of 11 indecent photographs depicting a boy approximately ten years old. Additionally, they found a suitcase filled with children’s clothing and several stink bombs, further indicating a disturbing preoccupation with children.

During the court proceedings, Kemp pleaded guilty to 11 charges of possessing indecent images of a child. Judge Roger Scott sentenced him to a year in prison, describing him as a dangerous individual. The judge emphasized that Kemp’s sexual preoccupations with children had been a persistent aspect of his life for many years, labeling him a “total sexual deviant” and warning that he posed a significant risk of reoffending.

According to the pre-sentence report, Kemp had previously moved from his home after he was observed looking out of the window at children waiting at a nearby bus stop, indicating ongoing inappropriate interests. During police interviews, Kemp admitted that the mannequins had been adapted and positioned for his own sexual gratification, acknowledging his urges towards children. However, he denied allowing children into his flat in Parkwood Rise, Keighley, asserting that the children’s clothing and photographs dated back to the 1980s.

Lesley Dickinson, representing Kemp in mitigation, stated that there was no evidence of recent contact with children since his last conviction in the 1970s. She argued that although Kemp’s behavior was unusual and troubling, he had attempted to distract himself from acting on his urges in his own way, suggesting that his actions were private and a matter of personal taste.

In addition to his prison sentence, Kemp, who resides on Crossley Wood Road in Bingley, was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. He is also required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and will be under an extended license for 30 months following his release, reflecting the serious concern about his potential to reoffend.