NEIL HORNSBY CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORN IN WOOD END - WARWICK CROWN COURT

In September 2017, Neil Hornsby, a 40-year-old resident of Wood End, found himself at the center of a disturbing criminal case involving the possession of a large collection of illegal images depicting children. Hornsby, who lives with his parents on Deedmore Road in Wood End, insisted that he was not a paedophile, claiming that he is gay and primarily interested in adult pornography. He maintained that his viewing of images of minors was only occasional and not driven by sexual attraction to children.

Despite the disturbing nature of the material found on his devices, Hornsby was spared immediate imprisonment when he appeared before Warwick Crown Court. The case came to light after police received information that prompted an investigation into his activities. In December of the previous year, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hornsby’s residence and seized his computer equipment for examination.

Prosecutor Mike Conry detailed the findings from the police investigation, revealing that Hornsby’s computer contained a staggering number of illegal images. Among these were 131 images classified as Category A, which included both still and moving pictures depicting children being subjected to rape and torture. Additionally, there were 86 images in Category B, and an overwhelming 1,399 images in Category C, showing minors in naked or indecent poses. These images represented a severe breach of child protection laws and highlighted the extent of Hornsby’s involvement in the possession of such material.

During the court proceedings, Judge Richard Bond addressed the gravity of the case, emphasizing that some of the images were not only static but also included moving footage. The judge pointed out that Hornsby’s guilty plea was based on the evidence obtained through the search warrant, which revealed a long-term pattern of downloading indecent images of children for his own sexual gratification. The judge stated, “Quietly behind closed doors, for your sexual pleasure, you downloaded indecent images of children over a long period of time. Each child shown on each image on your computer is the victim of sexual abuse.”

Judge Bond further explained that Hornsby’s actions contribute to the ongoing cycle of abuse and exploitation, noting that if individuals like him did not view such images, many thousands of children worldwide would be spared from further harm. Recognizing the importance of community safety and rehabilitation, the judge sentenced Hornsby to a three-year community order. This included a requirement for him to participate in a sex offender treatment program. Additionally, Hornsby was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police for five years and was mandated to pay costs amounting to £550.

Overall, the case underscores the serious legal and moral implications of possessing and viewing child exploitation material, and it highlights the judicial system’s efforts to address such heinous crimes while balancing considerations of rehabilitation and community safety.