READING PAEDOPHILE MICHAEL TATHAM SENTENCED FOR DARK WEB CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Reading, Michael Tatham, a 45-year-old man, was sentenced to 17 months in prison after being found guilty of accessing the dark web to search for and view images of child abuse.The sentencing took place at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, July 25, following a detailed investigation into his online activities and possession of indecent images of children.
Authorities uncovered that Tatham had been involved in illegal online searches between January 1, 2020, and May 6, 2022.
During this period, police discovered a total of 778 indecent photographs on his devices, including a laptop and a USB stick.
These images were categorized into three levels of severity: 155 images classified as Category A, indicating the most serious content; 123 images as Category B; and 500 images as Category C, which are considered less severe but still illegal.
Further investigation revealed that Tatham’s laptop was equipped with a web browser capable of accessing the dark web, a hidden part of the internet often used for illicit activities.
It was confirmed that he had used this browser to conduct illegal searches related to child exploitation.
The case highlighted his deliberate attempts to breach a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that had been imposed on him in 2017, after authorities found him in possession of over 1,300 indecent images of children as young as four years old.
Judge Kirsty Real emphasized the seriousness of Tatham’s actions, stating that the facts of the case demonstrated “deliberate attempts” to violate the restrictions set by his existing SHPO.
This order was originally put in place in 2017, following his previous conviction involving a large collection of child abuse images.
The judge noted that Tatham’s recent activities showed a clear pattern of ongoing offending.
The case took a further disturbing turn when Tatham was caught after showing a barmaid at a pub in Theale a horrific video depicting a young girl being abused.
This incident led to his arrest, during which police found a USB stick clenched in his fist containing hundreds of images of child abuse.
Tatham, who resides on Tippett Rise in Reading, was subsequently sentenced to 17 months for the possession of Category A images.
He received concurrent sentences for the remaining charges, and a new SHPO was issued, extending restrictions on his behavior for the next ten years.
In a related case from August 2017, Tatham, then living on Mulberry Way in Theale, narrowly avoided jail after admitting to possessing over 1,300 indecent images of children, including 100 of the most serious kind, along with five videos depicting children being sexually assaulted.
He was handed a suspended sentence and was disowned by his family, leaving him homeless.
The court heard that he had shown a barmaid a video of a young girl named Emily being abused, which prompted her to contact police.
During his arrest, officers found a USB device containing hundreds of images in his possession.
Judge Johanna Cutts described the case as profoundly disturbing, emphasizing that children as young as four had been sexually assaulted for the gratification of individuals like Tatham.
She stated, “If it was not for people like you, these types of images and abuse would not be a problem.” Tatham was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, along with 50 days of rehabilitation.
Additionally, he was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that will remain in effect for ten years, aiming to prevent any future offending.
