POOLE PENSIONER IAN BACON ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE CHILD ABUSE IMAGE CHARGES

In June 2012, a distressing case emerged from Poole involving a local pensioner who was found to have downloaded and possessed indecent images of children. The individual, Ian Bacon, aged 66 and residing on Cynthia Close, faced serious allegations after authorities uncovered evidence of his involvement in viewing and storing such material on his personal computer.

During a raid conducted at his home in 2008, law enforcement officers seized his computer equipment for forensic examination. The subsequent analysis revealed that Bacon had accessed and downloaded a significant number of images depicting children as young as ten years old. These findings led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

At Bournemouth Crown Court, the prosecution, led by Stuart Ellacott, detailed the extent of Bacon’s activities. The defendant admitted to 23 charges of making indecent photographs of children, a serious offense that highlights the disturbing nature of his actions. In his police interview, Bacon reportedly confessed to being sexually attracted to young girls and boys, although he maintained that he would never physically harm any child. His admission raised concerns about his potential risk to the community.

Defense counsel Brian Sharman argued that Bacon was a man of previously good character who had shown remorse by pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity. Sharman emphasized that Bacon had ceased downloading such material after being shocked by the content of a level four movie he had viewed, suggesting a level of remorse and recognition of the severity of his actions.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Judge Samuel Wiggs decided against imposing a custodial sentence. Instead, he ordered a three-year supervision program, taking into account the considerable time that had elapsed between the seizure of Bacon’s computer and the court hearing. The judge also mandated that Bacon register as a sex offender for five years and participate in the Thames Valley sex offenders’ rehabilitation program.

Furthermore, all of Bacon’s computer equipment was confiscated, and a Sexual Offenders’ Prevention Order was issued. This order explicitly prohibits him from using any computer or electronic device to access indecent material, aiming to prevent any future offenses. The case underscores ongoing concerns about online child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts in tackling such crimes in the Poole area.