MICHAEL CLARKE FROM SOUTHAM ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY

In April 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Michael Clarke, a man originally from Southam, who narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found guilty of possessing and creating child pornography. The case came to light when Clarke’s ex-wife, while clearing out the loft of their former marital home, uncovered a shocking collection of illicit materials that had been left behind when Clarke moved out.

She was horrified to discover two boxes filled with old camcorder tapes, magazines containing adult content, and a covert camera cleverly concealed within a clock. Among these items, she also found a small safe, which, when opened by police, revealed 18 videotapes and nine memory sticks. These digital and physical media contained a vast array of illegal content, including thousands of images and numerous videos depicting child exploitation.

Investigators transferred the tapes into viewable formats and uncovered disturbing footage. The material included images of unidentified women, as well as a 20-second clip showing a young boy, approximately eight years old, performing a sexual act on an adult man. Another video depicted a young girl being sexually abused. Police also seized Clarke’s laptop and additional memory sticks, which contained a wide range of illegal material, including extreme pornography such as acts of bestiality and a video of a girl around four years old being raped.

Further examination revealed that Clarke had secretly recorded two children, a boy and a girl aged between seven and eleven, in swimming costumes before they undressed. The total collection comprised over 2,000 images and 124 videos, illustrating the severity and extent of his offending.

During police questioning, Clarke claimed that he had accidentally downloaded images of children while browsing legal adult pornography sites. He also insisted that a recording he made was innocent. However, after consulting with his solicitor, he admitted to viewing child pornography for sexual gratification, acknowledging the criminal nature of his actions.

Clarke, aged 44 and residing at Deppers Bridge near Southam at the time of sentencing, faced multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of making indecent images of children, one count of voyeurism, and two counts of possessing extreme pornography. Despite the gravity of these charges, he was not sent to prison. Instead, Warwick Crown Court sentenced him 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.

Prosecutor Lisa Hancox provided background details, noting that Clarke and his wife, whom he married in 2005, divorced in 2012. The case was further complicated by the discovery of the illicit materials at the ex-wife’s house, suggesting Clarke did not maintain an ongoing interest in such material at the time of his departure. Defense lawyer William Douglas-Jones highlighted Clarke’s mental health issues and described his use of pornography as an escape during a difficult period in his life. He emphasized that Clarke had expressed remorse and disgust for his actions.

Judge Adrian Reynolds, presiding over the case, addressed Clarke directly. He stated that although the offending was deeply disturbing, he was not sending Clarke to prison because most of the illegal material was left behind at his ex-wife’s house, indicating a lack of ongoing interest. The judge acknowledged that Clarke now recognized the harm caused to victims and emphasized the dehumanizing nature of viewing children as sexual objects. Reynolds concluded by noting that the offenses occurred a long time ago and that Clarke’s current attitude suggested a diminished interest in such material, which influenced his decision to suspend the sentence.