JAMES PEARCE FROM SOUTH PETHERTON SPARED JAIL DESPITE HORRIFIC CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY
| Red Rose Database
South Petherton Rapist
In October 2017, a deeply disturbing case involving James Pearce, a resident of South Petherton, came to light at Taunton Crown Court. Pearce, aged 46, was confronted with the horrifying evidence of his involvement in the possession and creation of indecent images of children, as well as extreme pornography involving bestiality. Despite the severity of his crimes, he was ultimately spared immediate imprisonment, receiving a suspended sentence that reflects the gravity of his offenses.
Pearce appeared before the court after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including making indecent photographs of children, possessing prohibited images, and possessing an extreme pornographic image depicting bestiality. The court was informed that he would serve an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, alongside a comprehensive set of restrictions and supervision measures. These included a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, a notification order for the same duration, a two-year supervision requirement, and participation in two programs aimed at preventing reoffending.
When police arrested Pearce last April, he did not offer any comments during the subsequent interview. His initial court appearance at Somerset Magistrates in Yeovil also saw him entering no plea. Prosecutor Patrick Mason detailed the timeline of Pearce’s criminal activity, revealing that authorities first identified his involvement in illegal file sharing in July 2015. A search warrant executed at Pearce’s residence in South Petherton on April 4 uncovered multiple pieces of computer hardware, including two tablets, two laptops, and a memory stick.
Further investigation revealed that Pearce had been using these devices to access and collect child pornography since 2007, with a marked increase in activity during the year prior to the devices’ seizure. The computers contained a staggering collection of illegal content, including 499 images and 1,226 videos classified as Category A, the most serious level of indecent material. Additionally, there were 544 images and 393 videos categorized as B, along with 1,129 photographs and 121 films in Category C. Pearce also possessed prohibited images of children and an extremely graphic image depicting bestiality, which involved explicit acts between a person and a live animal, and was deemed grossly offensive and obscene.
Judge David Evans addressed Pearce directly, condemning his actions and emphasizing the seriousness of his offenses. He stated, “James Pearce, you are 46 and you are a paedophile. I must sentence you for five offences – three counts of making photographs of children at all category levels A, B, and C, one count of possessing two prohibited images of children, and a fifth charge of possessing graphic images depicting bestiality.” The judge highlighted that some of the images dated back as far as ten years, and that Pearce had shown no regard for the harm inflicted upon the children depicted. He remarked on the disturbing nature of the images, some involving infants, and noted Pearce’s apparent indifference to the suffering of the victims.
Judge Evans also commented on Pearce’s internet searches for the most severe images, indicating a deliberate and organized effort to collect such material. He expressed doubt about Pearce’s prospects for rehabilitation, citing the loss of his job and the trust of his family, and suggesting that his community in South Petherton would likely view his actions with disgust. The judge warned that Pearce’s lack of adult relationships and ongoing vulnerability to reoffending made his case particularly troubling, and he concluded that while Pearce had taken some initial steps towards rehabilitation, the path ahead would be difficult and unlikely to succeed in the near future.
Pearce appeared before the court after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including making indecent photographs of children, possessing prohibited images, and possessing an extreme pornographic image depicting bestiality. The court was informed that he would serve an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, alongside a comprehensive set of restrictions and supervision measures. These included a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, a notification order for the same duration, a two-year supervision requirement, and participation in two programs aimed at preventing reoffending.
When police arrested Pearce last April, he did not offer any comments during the subsequent interview. His initial court appearance at Somerset Magistrates in Yeovil also saw him entering no plea. Prosecutor Patrick Mason detailed the timeline of Pearce’s criminal activity, revealing that authorities first identified his involvement in illegal file sharing in July 2015. A search warrant executed at Pearce’s residence in South Petherton on April 4 uncovered multiple pieces of computer hardware, including two tablets, two laptops, and a memory stick.
Further investigation revealed that Pearce had been using these devices to access and collect child pornography since 2007, with a marked increase in activity during the year prior to the devices’ seizure. The computers contained a staggering collection of illegal content, including 499 images and 1,226 videos classified as Category A, the most serious level of indecent material. Additionally, there were 544 images and 393 videos categorized as B, along with 1,129 photographs and 121 films in Category C. Pearce also possessed prohibited images of children and an extremely graphic image depicting bestiality, which involved explicit acts between a person and a live animal, and was deemed grossly offensive and obscene.
Judge David Evans addressed Pearce directly, condemning his actions and emphasizing the seriousness of his offenses. He stated, “James Pearce, you are 46 and you are a paedophile. I must sentence you for five offences – three counts of making photographs of children at all category levels A, B, and C, one count of possessing two prohibited images of children, and a fifth charge of possessing graphic images depicting bestiality.” The judge highlighted that some of the images dated back as far as ten years, and that Pearce had shown no regard for the harm inflicted upon the children depicted. He remarked on the disturbing nature of the images, some involving infants, and noted Pearce’s apparent indifference to the suffering of the victims.
Judge Evans also commented on Pearce’s internet searches for the most severe images, indicating a deliberate and organized effort to collect such material. He expressed doubt about Pearce’s prospects for rehabilitation, citing the loss of his job and the trust of his family, and suggesting that his community in South Petherton would likely view his actions with disgust. The judge warned that Pearce’s lack of adult relationships and ongoing vulnerability to reoffending made his case particularly troubling, and he concluded that while Pearce had taken some initial steps towards rehabilitation, the path ahead would be difficult and unlikely to succeed in the near future.