ST ALBANS MAN MICHAEL HORLICK SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In July 2009, a man from St Albans, Michael Horlick, faced legal proceedings after admitting to possessing and downloading explicit images involving children being sexually abused by adults. The case drew significant attention due to the nature of the material and the circumstances surrounding his apprehension.

Michael Horlick, who resides at Queens Court on Hatfield Road in St Albans, was found to have stored a total of 55 images of child pornography on his computer. These images ranged in severity from level one, which depicts less graphic content, to level four, the most explicit and disturbing material. Among the files recovered, there were six images classified at level four, four at level three, and four at level one. The content included photographs of young girls, some as young as five years old, of Eastern origin, being subjected to sexual abuse by adults.

The discovery of these illicit files occurred during a routine maintenance operation. An IT technician, working to repair Horlick’s computer, uncovered a folder containing the illegal images. This led to immediate police involvement and subsequent investigation. Prosecutor George Heimler outlined that Horlick initially denied any knowledge of the material, claiming that a friend had borrowed his computer before it was sent for repairs. However, this denial was short-lived. When police presented evidence showing that searches for nude children had been conducted on his device, Horlick eventually admitted to possessing the images and engaging in the illegal activity.

It was also revealed that Horlick had a prior conviction related to similar offenses. In 2007, he was cautioned for possessing images of children and was subsequently registered on the Sex Offenders’ Register, highlighting a troubling pattern of behavior.

During the sentencing hearing at St Albans Crown Court, Horlick’s legal representative, Khalid Khan, argued that his client had not received adequate help during his previous conviction to address his issues. Additionally, it was noted that Horlick was suffering from health problems following a recent stroke, which was presented as a mitigating factor.

Judge Colston, presiding over the case, sentenced Horlick to a supervision order for three years. The judge also imposed a ban on Horlick working with children, emphasizing the serious implications of his actions. The court underscored the damaging impact of such material, with Judge Colston stating, “People who download material of this kind think they are not causing damage to the children involved but that is a wholly misguided view. People who download pornography of this kind increase the demand for it and so give the people who produce the images the incentive to abuse more children.”

Furthermore, Horlick was ordered to complete a sexual offender treatment program and will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years. Additional restrictions included a sexual offenders prevention order, which prohibits him from owning any computer or electronic device capable of storing, receiving, or transmitting images without monitoring officers’ approval. He was also banned from possessing software that could delete his internet browsing history, aiming to prevent any attempts to conceal his activities.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, and the serious legal consequences faced by those involved in such offenses.