JAMES HAWKINS OF RAMSGATE AND OXFORDSHIRE CAUGHT WATCHING CHILD SEX ABUSE IN GHANA

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, James Hawkins, a 74-year-old former Royal Air Force serviceman, has been found guilty of engaging in heinous acts involving the exploitation of children across continents. Hawkins, who has lived in Ramsgate and more recently in Oxfordshire, used his technological devices to facilitate and fund child sexual abuse in Ghana, a West African country.

According to court records, Hawkins spent a staggering £17,000 to pay pimps in Ghana to recruit young boys, some as young as 11 years old, to perform sexual acts on live webcams. The pensioner, who was married at the time, utilized his computer and webcam to access a website based in Ghana, where he could watch these disturbing acts unfold in real-time. The money he wired through their joint bank account was explicitly used to pay the pimps for their services, which included the recruitment and sexual exploitation of minors.

The authorities' investigation was triggered when police officers raided Hawkins’ residence on Dane Park Road in May of the previous year. During the search, they uncovered more than 700 illegal images depicting child sexual abuse stored on his computer. These images ranged in severity, with some classified at the highest level of indecency, level five. Forensic analysis of Hawkins’ devices revealed a disturbing pattern of activity, including chat logs where he engaged in sexual conversations with children and their pimps. His webcam was used to facilitate these chats, allowing him to watch the children perform sexual acts, which included oral sex, with children aged between 11 and 16.

Hawkins’ criminal history includes a previous conviction from 1964, when he was jailed for two years at a court martial for attempted buggery. He later served 18 months in Singapore for indecent assault on a boy. Despite these past convictions, Hawkins claimed to have believed he had left such behaviors behind. When questioned by police, he admitted, “This happened before in Singapore. I served 18 months of a two-year sentence for indecent assault on a boy. I thought I had put all this behind me.”

Following his arrest, Hawkins pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of possessing indecent images of children, three counts of making such images, and two counts of inciting boys aged 12 and 13 to engage in sexual activity outside the UK. The court heard that Hawkins had transferred money to pimps in Ghana over a period from October 2009 to April of the previous year, with the total amount reaching £17,000.

Prosecutor Alastair Keith told Canterbury Crown Court that Hawkins had handed his computer over to an expert, Christopher Clancy, for repairs. Clancy discovered the illicit material, which he promptly reported to the police. The subsequent investigation led to Hawkins’ arrest on April 1. The forensic examination of his devices confirmed the presence of hundreds of indecent photographs and chat logs used for sexual conversations with children and their pimps.

Hawkins’ defense attorney, Ian Foinette, expressed remorse, stating, “He is thoroughly ashamed of what he did and sought help immediately after his arrest.” However, Judge Adele Williams was unequivocal in her condemnation, stating, “These children were being sexually abused and exploited before your own eyes – albeit they were in Ghana. And you were paying directly for that.” The judge sentenced Hawkins to 16 months in prison, emphasizing the severity of his actions and the exploitation of vulnerable minors across international borders.