GILES FORBES FROM NORTH KENSINGTON JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND WEAPONS OFFENSES

In a significant crackdown on child exploitation and illegal weapons possession, Giles Forbes, a 42-year-old resident of North Kensington, was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison following his conviction on multiple serious charges. The case, heard at London’s Blackfriars Crown Court, revealed a disturbing pattern of criminal activity involving the distribution of child pornography and the possession of illegal firearms.

Forbes, a known churchgoer, had been actively involved in the online trade of illicit material for several years. Between October 15, 2005, and March 2006, he admitted to three counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possession for show. The evidence presented in court detailed how he used eBay as a platform to establish a network of customers interested in under-aged abuse. His method involved initially contacting potential buyers with less explicit, “low level” images, which then led to offers of more graphic content. The collection of illicit material found at his residence in Kensal Road, North Kensington, was described as vast, nearly filling his home, and included still images, DVDs, and videos depicting children as young as seven being abused by adults.

Prosecutor Tom Wilkins highlighted the severity of the material, stating that some images showed children who appeared to be older, yet had been drugged, restrained, and raped. He emphasized that the material was at the most sadistic end of what the court typically encounters, with police reports indicating the collection was “choc-a-block from floor to ceiling.”

The police investigation was initiated after an inquiry into Forbes’ activities on eBay, which suggested he was using the platform to sell child pornography. Officers arrived at his home unexpectedly and caught him leaving the premises. Despite his initial denial of involvement, a violent struggle ensued, requiring three officers to subdue and handcuff him. During the search, authorities uncovered not only the illicit images but also a cache of weapons, including two decommissioned submachine guns—the Uzi and Stirling—along with a blank-firing handgun, ammunition, a crossbow with arrows, and a book titled “Sexual Offences: Law and Practice.” Additionally, they found a bag containing handcuffs, condoms, and a gun holster.

Further investigations revealed that Forbes’ involvement with child pornography dated back over 15 years. His criminal record includes a 1992 conviction for possessing such material with intent to distribute, which resulted in a £500 fine. Despite this, he resumed his activities, leading to a six-week jail sentence in 1994 for importing images of prepubescent children being abused. A subsequent conviction in 1999 earned him another six months behind bars.

In sentencing, Judge Aiden Marron QC emphasized the gravity of Forbes’ crimes, describing the material as covering all categories and noting the volume was “not insubstantial.” The court also imposed lifetime restrictions, forbidding Forbes from contacting or working with anyone under 16, possessing or seeking photographs of minors, or being unsupervised in their company. He is also prohibited from residing with someone under 16 or attending venues where children undress, bathe, or swim, reflecting the court’s concern for ongoing risk and protection of vulnerable minors.