JOHN HEPBURN FROM SKEGNESS ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE AND BESTIALITY IMAGES DISCOVERY

In a case that has shocked the community of Skegness, pensioner John Hepburn, aged 66, was found to possess a disturbing collection of illegal images and videos depicting child abuse and bestiality. The incident came to light during a police raid on his residence in June 2015, revealing a troubling array of illicit material stored on his computer equipment.

When officers entered Hepburn’s home, they discovered numerous illegal videos and photographs. Prosecutor Nicola Moore detailed that Hepburn’s response to the police was unsettling; he claimed, “I’ve seen them but I’ve not downloaded them. I’ve seen the children but I prefer the dog stuff.” This statement was part of his attempt to deny any direct involvement in downloading or creating the content, yet the evidence told a different story.

The authorities found indecent images of children on both a laptop and a desktop computer belonging to Hepburn. Additionally, DVDs containing extreme pornographic material, including scenes of bestiality, had been burned and stored on his premises. The investigation revealed that Hepburn had used a file-sharing platform to search for such images and had also used a camera to record videos of images being displayed on his computer screen, further implicating him in the possession and viewing of these illegal materials.

Hepburn, a resident of Sea View Road in Skegness, faced multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, with the images dating from September 2009 to June 2013. The images included 77 in total, with 40 classified as the most serious category, involving children aged between eight and thirteen years old. In addition, he admitted to possessing 11 extreme pornographic images, including those depicting bestiality.

During the court proceedings, James Earle, representing Hepburn, highlighted that his client had no prior criminal record and had cooperated fully with law enforcement authorities. Earle described Hepburn as a “broken and remorseful man,” emphasizing that he had ceased working in 2012 due to significant health issues, and that his wife had passed away two years later. The defense also pointed out that Hepburn had 13 grandchildren and one great grandchild, and that his family was deeply shocked by his actions, firmly believing that such behavior would not recur.

On January 25, at Lincoln Crown Court, Judge Simon Hirst sentenced Hepburn to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. The sentence included a two-year supervision order, which involves participation in sexual offending rehabilitation programs. Hepburn was also ordered to pay £250 in prosecution costs and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a decade. The judge warned that any breach of the order would result in the immediate serving of the original prison sentence, stating, “If you breach this order in any way then you will come back to court and you will serve your eight months.”