MICHAEL CLARKE FROM SHIPSTON-ON-STOUR AND SOUTHAM CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND HIDDEN CAMERAS

In April 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Michael Clarke, a man with connections to both Shipston-on-Stour and Southam, who was found to possess a vast and disturbing collection of child abuse images and covert recording devices. The discovery was made when Clarke's ex-wife, during a routine clear-out of their former family home, uncovered a hidden cache of illicit materials stored in the loft of their property.

Clarke, aged 44 and residing in Deppers Bridge near Southam at the time, had left behind numerous items that would later lead to his arrest and prosecution. Among the items found were old camcorder tapes, pornographic magazines, and a covert camera concealed within a clock, all of which indicated a disturbing pattern of behavior. Additionally, police discovered a small safe containing 18 video tapes and nine memory sticks, which upon examination revealed a horrifying array of images and videos.

Investigators transferred the tapes into viewable formats and uncovered a series of disturbing scenes. These included images of unknown women, as well as clips depicting a young boy and girl engaging in sexual acts. The severity of the material was compounded by the discovery of images graded as Category A and B, showing acts of bestiality, and Category C images depicting children in naked or indecent poses. The collection included 817 still images and 27 movies in Category A, featuring a girl aged three or four being sexually assaulted, alongside a total of 984 stills and 24 movies in Category B, and a staggering 7,160 stills and 73 movies in Category C.

Further investigation revealed that Clarke had also secretly recorded two children, a boy and a girl aged between seven and eleven, as they undressed in swimming costumes. These recordings, along with the extensive collection of images, painted a deeply disturbing picture of Clarke’s activities. The police seized his laptop, which contained additional indecent images of children, graded as Category C, and other material in the more serious categories A and B.

During questioning, Clarke initially claimed that he had accidentally downloaded images of children while browsing legal adult pornography sites, and that the recordings he made were “innocent.” However, after consulting with his solicitor, he admitted to viewing child pornography for sexual gratification. The evidence was overwhelming, and the severity of the material found was undeniable.

Clarke was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including seven counts of making indecent images of children, one count of voyeurism, and two counts of possessing extreme pornography. Despite the gravity of his actions, he avoided immediate imprisonment. At Warwick Crown Court, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. The court also ordered Clarke to participate in a rehabilitation program aimed at addressing his behavior and mandated that he register as a sex offender for five years.

Judge Adrian Reynolds commented on the case, noting that the material was found in the loft of Clarke’s ex-wife’s house, which suggested he did not take the items with him when he moved out, indicating a lack of ongoing interest at the time of his departure. The judge emphasized the depravity of Clarke’s actions, stating, “Disgusting as your offending is, I am not intending to send you to prison.” He acknowledged that Clarke’s remorse and the fact that most of the serious material was left behind contributed to his decision. The judge also highlighted that Clarke’s statements indicated he did not think about the victims at the time of his offending, but now recognizes the lifelong impact such abuse can have on children.