LEE PHILLIPS OF CHATHAM JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES
In June 2014, Lee Phillips, a gas fitter from Chatham, was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to multiple offenses related to child abuse images.The court heard that Phillips downloaded child abuse movies, some lasting up to half an hour, depicting children as young as four.
These images were accessible to other internet users via file-sharing networks.
Although Judge Jeremy Carey acknowledged that Phillips, 48, had "learned a lesson to a very substantial degree," he emphasized the need for a sentence that would serve as a clear warning.
The judge stated: “I accept that in the cold light of day you are now aware of how this criminal industry affects children who are innocent and have no real understanding of what is going on and are corrupted or abused for the whole of their lives.
When this message will get home to people like you, sitting at home in their bedrooms and looking at it night after night in the belief it is entertaining, I do not know.” Phillips, of Valerian Close, Chatham, pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing indecent images of children (between May 2008 and August 2013), four counts of distributing such images (July and August 2013), one count of creating indecent images (September 2009 to August 2013), and one count of possessing extreme pornography involving sexual acts with dogs in August 2013.
The court found that a total of 64 child abuse images, mostly movies, were stored on two laptops belonging to Phillips.
Prosecutor Ruth Zentler-Munro explained that Phillips claimed he would "never act on his interests," describing his behavior as "fantasies." Phillips had downloaded the illicit material from a free file-sharing website, with default computer settings making it possible for other users worldwide to access his images.
A Kent Police child exploitation officer confirmed that although Phillips could have disabled sharing, there was no evidence he intentionally did so.
Defense attorney James Ross stated that Phillips had become withdrawn following a breakup and had moved in with his mother and stepfather.
As part of his sentence, Phillips will be required to register as a sex offender, be subject to a 10-year sexual offences prevention order, and be prohibited from working with children.
DC Karl Brett from Kent Police's child exploitation team commented: “Phillips told us in interview he had no intention of ever acting on his fantasies but what he and others who download this material need to realize is that they are perpetrating a cycle of real-life abuse.”
