HUNTINGDON MAN JONATHAN WIMPENEY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AT BARCLAYS IN CANARY WHARF

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community and the financial sector alike, Jonathan Wimpeney, a 50-year-old IT director employed by Barclays Bank, was sentenced to six months in prison for possessing and downloading a significant number of child pornography images. The incident unfolded after Wimpeney, who was responsible for IT operations across Western Europe, was caught engaging in illegal online activities that involved the exploitation of minors.

Wimpeney's misconduct came to light when his Dell laptop, which had become infected with computer viruses, was taken in for repair at Barclays' headquarters located in Canary Wharf. The bank's IT security team, upon inspecting the device, discovered a troubling cache of 765 explicit images depicting children as young as three being subjected to sexual abuse, including incestuous acts. Recognizing the severity of the findings, Barclays promptly reported the matter to law enforcement authorities.

Subsequent police raids targeted Wimpeney’s residence in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. During the search, investigators uncovered an additional six child pornography images stored on his personal computer. Wimpeney, who was earning a six-figure salary and held a prominent position within the bank, admitted to browsing these illicit images while working abroad in various European countries, including Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy. He explained to the court that his interest was driven by boredom rather than predatory intent, stating, “I didn’t go looking for child pornography but the threshold of boredom drew me to child pornography.”

His actions, the court heard, contributed to the ongoing child exploitation industry, with Judge Peter Birts QC condemning Wimpeney’s behavior as fueling a “filthy and destructive trade.” The judge emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting that Wimpeney’s high professional standing contrasted sharply with his low moral conduct. Wimpeney was sentenced to serve three months in prison before being released on license, with the court also ordering the destruction of his computers and requiring him to register as a sex offender for ten years.

Prosecutor Margia Mostafa detailed Wimpeney’s employment background, highlighting his role as head of IT delivery for Western Europe at Barclays and his extensive travel across Europe for the bank. The court was told that Wimpeney had handed over his laptop on June 10 of the previous year after it became infected with viruses, which led to the discovery of his illegal activities. Further investigation revealed that Wimpeney had searched for terms like “shy virgins” and visited websites specializing in incestuous content involving mothers and sons.

The images found on Wimpeney’s devices were particularly disturbing, including photographs of a 10-year-old girl engaged in sexual acts with another child, a four-year-old girl being forced to perform a sex act, and a three-year-old girl being raped. His defense attorney, Harold Persaud, argued that Wimpeney’s actions were motivated by loneliness and boredom during prolonged overseas business trips, suggesting that his initial interest in adult pornography had escalated into more disturbing material.

Following his conviction, Wimpeney faced immediate consequences, including termination from his position at Barclays, the breakdown of his marriage, and the potential sale of his home in Huntingdon. The court ordered the confiscation and destruction of his computers and mandated that he register as a sex offender for a decade. Wimpeney was convicted on 16 counts of making indecent photographs of a child and four counts of possessing such images, marking a serious breach of trust and a grave criminal offense.