KEVIN HODSON FROM CLAYTON-LE-MOORS CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing development, Kevin Hodson, a resident of Clayton-le-Moors, has been found in possession of numerous indecent images of young girls, reigniting concerns about child safety and online exploitation. The police investigation revealed that Hodson, aged 45, was involved in downloading and storing explicit photographs of minors, which has led to his re-arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.

Hodson was previously serving an eight-year prison sentence for the heinous crime of raping a schoolgirl. After his release, he was placed on licence, but his criminal activities did not cease. Last November, authorities conducted a raid on his residence located on Alma Street in Clayton-le-Moors. During this operation, officers seized his computer equipment and other electronic devices for forensic analysis. The investigation uncovered 64 indecent images depicting girls aged between 10 and 17, which were stored on his computer.

Detective Constable Wendy Rimmer, who is part of the Public Protection Unit based in Accrington, expressed her views following the court hearing. She stated, “I am a bit disappointed with the length of sentence but hopeful that the prevention order will go some way to protecting children in the future.” Her comments reflect the ongoing concern about the adequacy of sentencing in cases involving child exploitation.

Hodson, who resides alone on Alma Street, admitted to four counts of possessing indecent photographs. His legal situation was complicated by his prior conviction and recall to custody, which meant that his current 16-month sentence would run consecutively to his previous sentence. As part of his court orders, Hodson is prohibited from associating with or contacting anyone under the age of 16. He is also barred from having minors in his home and is forbidden from possessing any computer equipment with internet access at his residence.

Judge Beverley Lunt addressed the court, noting that Hodson did not create, distribute, or publish the images, and while some of the photographs were “very, very bad indeed,” the total number was limited. She expressed her view that Hodson did not pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public, which influenced her sentencing decision.

Prosecutor Tina Landale provided further details, revealing that police had conducted a thorough search of Hodson’s home, which was found to contain a collection of explicit images. The forensic examination of his computer uncovered not only the 64 images but also additional material from his previous conviction. In 1999, Hodson was sentenced to eight years in prison at Preston Crown Court for rape and indecent assault. When arrested for that offence, authorities also discovered images of naked children aged between nine and 16 engaged in sexual acts.

Hodson was released from prison in November 2004 but was recalled to custody by the Home Office on April 24 of this year due to his continued involvement in illegal activities. His defense attorney, Martin Hackett, argued that if Hodson had been a person of good character or had no previous convictions, his sentence might have been around 12 months. He emphasized that the majority of the images found were at the least serious level and that Hodson had not distributed or sought to profit from the material.

Overall, the case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling online child exploitation and the importance of stringent sentencing and preventative measures to protect vulnerable minors from harm.