JOHN POWELL FROM RODMELL SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN HOVE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Rodmell, John Powell, a 58-year-old resident, was found guilty of possessing a vast collection of indecent images of children, along with prohibited extreme pornographic content. The investigation, carried out by Sussex Police's Paedophile On-Line Investigation Team (POLIT), uncovered that Powell was in possession of a staggering total of 5,038 indecent images of minors, as well as 368 images classified as Prohibited extreme pornographic material.

Powell appeared before Hove Crown Court on Friday, February 21, where he faced the consequences of his actions. The court sentenced him to four years in prison, a punishment that reflects the severity of his offenses. Additionally, Powell was issued a lifelong Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which imposes strict restrictions on his access to computers and contact with children. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

The charges against Powell stem from a guilty plea he entered on January 16 at the same court. He admitted to 12 counts of making indecent images of children, four counts of possession of such images, and two counts of possessing prohibited images. An additional alleged offense involving the taking of an indecent image of a child was not pursued and will remain on the court record without further action.

The investigation revealed that all the images and videos in Powell’s possession were accessed via the internet, highlighting the online nature of his offending. The case was initiated following an intelligence-led inquiry by POLIT, which works to combat online child exploitation.

Detective Constable Jackie Keogh of POLIT emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “In total Powell was found to be in possession of 5,038 indecent images of children and 368 Prohibited extreme pornographic images. The indecent images of children ranged from level 1 to level 5, with level 5 being the most serious.”

She further explained, “Even when we were preparing to charge Powell in October 2012, we discovered he was still offending while on bail. He was subsequently re-arrested and charged with additional offenses, which contributed to the sentencing today.”

Keogh underscored the police’s commitment to tackling such heinous crimes, stating, “This case exemplifies our dedication to following up on intelligence from law enforcement agencies and the public. Every image represents actual child sex abuse, and we will continue to pursue any leads to prevent further circulation of such material.”