KIERAN BARRETT FROM DEEPING ST NICHOLAS AND PETERBOROUGH JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In May 2009, a disturbing case involving a police community support officer from the Peterborough area came to light, revealing a grave breach of trust and a serious criminal offense. Kieran Barrett, who was responsible for community policing in the Woodston and Fletton districts of Peterborough, was found to possess an alarming collection of over 220,000 child abuse images on his personal laptop. This revelation led to his immediate arrest and subsequent imprisonment, highlighting the severity of his actions and the ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation.

Barrett’s criminal activities were uncovered through a specialized police operation that targeted individuals involved in the distribution and possession of indecent images. The investigation was triggered after Barrett used his own email account to access a chatroom known as Forbidden Realms, a platform reportedly associated with illicit material. Law enforcement officers acted swiftly, executing a raid on his residence, which was located in Campains Lane, Deeping St Nicholas, near Market Deeping. During the search, authorities discovered a vast cache of illegal images and videos stored on his computer, which he had not attempted to delete or conceal.

Expert analysis of Barrett’s computer revealed the shocking extent of his collection. The police found more than 220,000 still photographs depicting child abuse, along with three videos, all of which were readily accessible on his device. The sheer volume of material was described as “quite enormous” by the court, underscoring the disturbing nature of his possession. Prosecutor Sarah Solomon stated that Barrett, aged 27 at the time, made no comment when questioned about the material. However, he did resign from his position with the Cambridgeshire police force shortly after his arrest. Later, Barrett admitted to possessing eight counts of indecent images of children during proceedings in May of the following year.

Defense attorney Adrienne Lucking argued that Barrett posed a minimal risk of re-offending and emphasized that he had not attempted to distribute or share the images. She explained to the court that Barrett’s discovery was incidental, resulting from a police operation investigating other material, and that he cooperated fully once confronted. Lucking also highlighted that Barrett had only been employed as a PCSO for a few months at the time of his arrest, and that he had taken responsibility by resigning immediately. She stressed that there was no evidence to suggest he was involved in the distribution of the illicit images.

Judge Michael Heath delivered a stern sentence, condemning Barrett’s actions and emphasizing the harm caused to the victims depicted in the images. He stated that Barrett had downloaded the material for his own sexual gratification, which contributed to the ongoing cycle of abuse. The judge remarked, “It doesn’t take very much to realize that a number of children have been sexually abused to make these disgusting images. If it were not for people like you, who are providing a market for these images, then these children would not suffer this degradation.”

As part of his sentence, Barrett was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years and was permanently barred from working with children. The police spokesperson from Cambridgeshire confirmed that Barrett was employed by the force from January 28, 2008, until his arrest on May 12, 2008, after which his resignation was accepted on May 15, 2008. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the ongoing fight against child exploitation, even among those sworn to protect the community.