KEVIN LOCKETT'S SHOCKING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY IN STOKE

In June 2016, Kevin Lockett, a 50-year-old resident of Stoke, was found to be involved in a disturbing case involving the possession of a vast collection of indecent images of children. Authorities uncovered that Lockett had downloaded and stored over 5,000 illicit images depicting minors as young as two years old. The investigation began when police officers executed a search warrant at his home in Weston Coyney, a district within Stoke, on December 16. During the search, they seized multiple electronic devices, including a laptop, which were later subjected to detailed analysis.

The forensic examination revealed that the devices contained a staggering number of illegal images, with some folders explicitly organized and accessible. The images were categorized into different levels of severity: 720 images fell into Category A, representing the most serious offenses; 1,496 images were classified as Category B; and 2,837 images were in Category C, indicating lesser degrees of severity. The police found no evidence suggesting that Lockett attempted to hide or destroy these images, nor was there any indication of distribution or active searching for such material at the time of the investigation.

Kevin Lockett, who at the time of the arrest was living on Horton Drive, pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children and five charges related to creating indecent photographs of minors. His current address is listed as Woodhouse Street, Stoke. The court proceedings revealed that Lockett had no prior criminal record, and his defense argued that he had taken steps to address his behavior by completing a rehabilitation course through the Lucy Faithful Foundation.

Despite this, Judge Andrew Easteal sentenced Lockett to 12 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for 18 months. Additionally, Lockett was ordered to participate in a 35-day rehabilitation activity program. The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 35 days and mandated that he register as a sex offender for the next ten years. The judge emphasized the gravity of Lockett’s actions, stating, “You are in no doubt about the seriousness of your conduct and how gravely courts regard this sort of behaviour. When you engage in it on the scale you have any judge is left with no choice but to administer a prison sentence.”

He further explained the devastating impact of such crimes, noting, “The images that you looked at exist on a horrific scale. They exist because of you and all the people like you who provide a market for them. If nobody viewed them, they would not be there. Vast numbers of children, in your case aged two to 12, were subjected to sexual abuse because you made it worthwhile. It is not fiction. They are real children being abused.”

Earlier in May 2016, Lockett had already admitted to possessing and creating indecent images of children. On that occasion, he confessed to having 3,436 indecent images, ranging from Category A to Category C, along with 83 indecent moving images. The police had uncovered that between October 19, 2013, and December 6 of the same year, Lockett had made a total of 1,529 indecent images and three indecent moving images of children. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre granted him unconditional bail pending his upcoming court appearance at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where he faced more serious charges related to the possession and distribution of child exploitation material.