LONG EATON MAN JOHN SEMPLE CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND ILLEGAL SEARCHES

In March 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving John Semple, a resident of Long Eaton, Derbyshire, who was found to possess highly inappropriate and illegal images of children on a laptop stored at his mother’s residence. The investigation revealed that Semple, a married man aged 58, had engaged in internet searches for explicit images involving children as young as 11 years old, raising serious concerns about his intentions and the potential harm to victims.

When police officers arrived at his home on Russell Street in Long Eaton to execute a search warrant, they confronted Semple with the reason for their visit. His response was blunt and revealing; he stated, “It is me and nothing to do with anyone else,” indicating a lack of remorse or acknowledgment of the severity of his actions. The officers proceeded to seize electronic devices, including a Compaq laptop from his residence and a Toshiba laptop from his mother’s address, which was later found to contain a significant collection of illegal material.

During the search, authorities discovered 12 Category A movies, which are classified as the most serious type of child abuse images, along with two Category B movies and 34 images or videos categorized as Category C. Further analysis of the Toshiba laptop revealed that Semple had conducted internet searches related to pre-teen hardcore pornography, specifically targeting children aged 11 and 12. These findings underscored the disturbing nature of his online activity and his obsession with such material.

Semple admitted that the Toshiba laptop seized from his mother’s house belonged to him, confirming his involvement. He subsequently pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, with offenses spanning from May 2014 to July 2016. The police and prosecution highlighted the gravity of his actions, emphasizing the harm inflicted upon real victims and the disturbing pattern of his behavior.

In sentencing, Derby Crown Court’s Judge Jonathan Bennett imposed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered Semple to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order for a decade, aimed at preventing any future offending. The judge acknowledged that Semple had no prior convictions, although he noted that he had received a caution in 2010 for similar offenses, which aggravated his record. The court warned that any breach of the order within the next two to three years would constitute a new offense, underscoring the seriousness with which such crimes are treated and the importance of ongoing monitoring to protect potential victims.