MARK WARD FROM SNAPE CAUGHT WITH CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN SUFFOLK

In April 2019, a man from the village of Snape, Suffolk, was found to possess indecent photographs of children, leading to legal action and a series of court orders. The incident came to light when police officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Mark Ward, aged 56, on Gromford Lane, Snape. During the search, authorities seized an external hard drive, which upon examination revealed disturbing content.

The digital device contained a total of twelve indecent images of children, categorized by severity. Among these, one image was classified as Level A, indicating the most serious form of indecency. Additionally, there were two images in Level B and nine in Level C, the lowest category. These images were reportedly created over a span of years, specifically between 2009 and 2016.

Initially, Ward denied committing three separate offences related to the creation and possession of these indecent images, with a trial scheduled for later in the year. However, during proceedings, he changed his plea to guilty, admitting to the charges. As a result, the court sentenced him to a two-year community order, which includes a requirement to participate in 50 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his behavior.

Furthermore, Ward was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, which will remain in effect for five years, restricting his activities and contact to prevent further harm. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender, a legal requirement for individuals convicted of such offences. The court heard that the images were produced over a period spanning nearly a decade, highlighting the prolonged nature of the offending.

During police interviews, Ward claimed that his interest was limited to women with small breasts and insisted that he would not have downloaded images if he believed they depicted females under the age of 18. Despite his assertions, the court found sufficient evidence to impose the aforementioned restrictions and orders, emphasizing the seriousness of the offences and the need for ongoing monitoring.