WATFORD CHILD ABUSE IMAGES ADDICT GLEN CAWSTON ESCAPES JAIL BY A WHISKER

In a case that has shocked the community of Watford, Glen Cawston, a 37-year-old resident of Byewaters in West Watford, was found guilty of possessing and creating a significant number of indecent images and videos depicting children. The court proceedings revealed that Cawston had been engaged in this disturbing activity over a period of four years, during which he downloaded thousands of illicit images and movies from the internet.

On a routine morning, police officers arrived at Cawston’s residence on August 21 of the previous year, armed with a search warrant. When they knocked, Cawston answered the door and initially denied any involvement with indecent images of children. However, under further questioning, he admitted to having such material stored on his laptop. Authorities then conducted a thorough examination of his electronic devices, including his laptop, external hard drives, and Blackberry phone.

During the court hearing held at St Albans Crown Court, Cawston pleaded guilty to a total of 12 charges related to the making and possession of indecent images and videos of children. The images ranged from Level 1, considered the least severe, to Level 5, the most serious. The evidence presented showed that he possessed 1,958 Level 1 images and 31 Level 1 movies, along with 503 Level 2 images and 10 Level 2 movies. Further, there were 370 Level 3 images and 44 Level 3 movies, 1,075 Level 4 images and 171 Level 4 movies, and 100 Level 5 images accompanied by 7 Level 5 movies.

It was noted that Cawston had no prior criminal convictions. When questioned by police, he explained that he had been viewing child sex abuse images for approximately four years, coinciding with the time he moved in with his partner. He stated that he could not recall exactly how his interest in such material began but admitted that he obtained these images through file-sharing services he used for music and movies. His search terms often included words like ‘teens,’ indicating a disturbing pattern of interest.

Legal representatives for Cawston, including Phillipa Ellis, highlighted that since his arrest, he had been diagnosed by a psychiatrist with depression and borderline personality disorder. She emphasized that he would benefit from participation in the Thames Valley Sex Offender Programme, which has a high success rate in rehabilitating offenders.

At sentencing, Judge Andrew Bright QC acknowledged the gravity of the case, stating, “You have missed going to prison by a whisker. Locking you up is what the public, no doubt, wishes me to do as this behaviour is so repulsive.” The judge also pointed out that this activity had been a secret for Cawston until now, and that incarceration would only serve as a short-term solution. He stressed the importance of treatment and rehabilitation, noting that the sex offender programme offered a better chance at addressing the underlying issues.

As part of his sentence, Cawston was handed a three-year Community Order. He is required to be supervised by probation officers for the duration of this period and must attend the Sex Offender Programme. Additionally, he is prohibited from accessing the internet unless his browsing history can be displayed and verified. The court also ordered him to pay £800 in costs, and the police seized and forfeited his computer drives, laptop, and other electronic devices. Cawston’s case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting vulnerable victims.