NEIL CAVEN CHILD PORN SCANDAL IN LEMINGTON SHOCKS NEWCASTLE COMMUNITY

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Newcastle and Lemington communities, Neil Caven, a former radio personality, has been implicated in possessing and creating child pornography. The investigation revealed that Caven, who once worked as a sidekick on the popular Century Radio breakfast show alongside Paul ‘Goffy’ Gough, was found to have accumulated a total of 148 indecent images of young girls on his personal computer.

Neil Caven, aged 33 and residing on Loraine Terrace in Lemington, Newcastle, had previously denied all charges related to these images since his arrest last year. However, during a court hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, he ultimately pleaded guilty to nine counts of child pornography offenses. The charges included seven counts of making indecent images of children, which spanned from April 2004 to July 2007, and two counts of possession of such images, with the most recent being in March of the previous year.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, presiding over the case, addressed Caven directly, stating, “You pleaded guilty at the last opportunity in the face of overwhelming evidence. The public do not expect people such as yourself to have such images. The public expect to be protected from those who, like you, seek out for their own gratification such images.”

Caven’s background as a well-known figure in the local media landscape was highlighted during the proceedings. He gained notoriety as a sidekick on Century Radio, where he was often the target of jokes and playful teasing from the show’s hosts. His departure from the station in 2005 coincided with the end of his radio career, after which he transitioned into working as a car salesman on Tyneside.

His arrest last March uncovered that he had been downloading indecent images from the internet, leading to his charges. The court was informed that most of the images were classified as Level 1, indicating the least serious category, although four images fell into Level 4, which is considered the second most serious category. The severity of the images underscored the gravity of his offenses.

In sentencing, Judge Bourne-Arton acknowledged the time Caven had spent under investigation and the public humiliation he had endured. He stated, “You will have had to endure personal embarrassment and you have had this hanging over you since March last year. You will have had to face family and friends and now you have admitted the sort of person you are, someone who preys on young exploited girls. I trust your arrest and public humiliation will act as sufficient deterrent to you.”

As part of his punishment, Caven was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offender register for seven years, placed under supervision, and required to pay costs amounting to £3,000. The court’s decision aimed to balance the seriousness of his crimes with considerations of his personal circumstances and the impact of the investigation.

Neil Caven’s case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding child exploitation and the importance of vigilance within communities like Lemington and Newcastle. The community continues to grapple with the implications of such revelations, emphasizing the need for continued awareness and preventative measures against such heinous crimes.