GUY HOCKADAY FROM NEWMARKET CAUGHT VIEWING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN POLICE OPERATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY

In a significant law enforcement operation spanning multiple regions, authorities apprehended Guy Hockaday, a 58-year-old resident of Newmarket, after discovering he possessed a large collection of illegal images. The incident unfolded in March when police officers executed a raid on Hockaday’s residence on Exning Road, uncovering a disturbing cache of 901 images depicting children engaged in abusive acts on his computer.

Hockaday’s arrest was not the result of a local investigation but was initiated through a broader police operation based in Gloucestershire. This operation involved monitoring individuals who accessed a legitimate website that had been compromised by hackers to include illegal child pornography content. The authorities tracked online activity and obtained crucial details from internet service providers, which ultimately led to Hockaday’s identification.

Following his arrest, Hockaday was taken into custody and subsequently interviewed by investigators. During the questioning, he admitted to accessing websites that displayed illegal content, revealing a pattern of behavior that involved initially visiting adult websites before deliberately choosing to view the illicit images of children. Prosecutor Godfried Duah confirmed these details during court proceedings.

Hockaday faced charges of making indecent images of a child, to which he pleaded guilty. His background was further examined during the case, with mitigation presented by lawyer Richard Harvey. Harvey highlighted that five individuals had provided character references for Hockaday, offering some insight into his personal history. It was noted that Hockaday had struggled with heavy drinking, a problem that worsened following the deaths of his mother and father, which may have contributed to his actions.

In sentencing, Judge John Devaux acknowledged the severity of such offenses, which often result in imprisonment. However, considering the circumstances and Hockaday’s background, the judge opted for a more lenient approach. He imposed a three-year community order, requiring Hockaday to be under supervision by the probation service. Additionally, Hockaday was ordered to pay £900 in prosecution costs, reflecting the seriousness with which the court viewed the case but also considering the mitigating factors presented during sentencing.