PETER MAHER FROM DONCASTER AND HATFIELD JAILED FOR REPEATED CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing issue of child exploitation and the failure of rehabilitation efforts, Peter Maher, a 70-year-old resident of Hatfield, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of downloading and viewing numerous child sexual abuse images. The incident came to light after Maher, who had previously undergone a sex offenders' treatment program, resumed his illegal activities mere weeks after completing the rehabilitation process.

Maher, whose address is listed as Harpenden Drive, Hatfield, had previously been sentenced in February 2016 and was ordered to participate in a sex offenders' treatment program aimed at rehabilitating individuals convicted of sexual offenses and raising awareness about the harm inflicted on children by those who access such abusive material. The program's goal is to prevent recidivism by educating offenders about the devastating impact of their actions on victims.

Despite completing the program on November 16, 2016, Maher’s criminal behavior resurfaced by December 28 of the same year, as revealed during a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on February 20. The court was informed that Maher’s recent offending was uncovered in March of the previous year when South Yorkshire Police received reports indicating he had resumed viewing child pornography.

When police officers executed a search warrant at Maher’s property, they seized an iPad and a Lenovo laptop. An analysis of these devices confirmed that Maher had downloaded a total of five videos classified as Category A, which is designated for the most severe material depicting children being raped. In addition, he had downloaded four videos from Category C, which involves less severe but still illegal content. The investigation also uncovered software designed to conceal his online activity, including tools to hide the websites he visited and a peer-to-peer file-sharing program that allowed other users to access the illicit videos.

The court was told that the children depicted in the videos Maher downloaded ranged in age from five to eleven years old, underscoring the heinous nature of his offenses. Prosecutor Carl Fitch emphasized the severity of the case, stating that Maher had immediately admitted to viewing indecent images when confronted by police.

Judge Graham Reeds QC delivered the sentence, imposing a 58-week prison term on Maher. The court also ordered that the sexual harm prevention order, which had been imposed in February 2016, remain in effect to prevent further offenses. In his remarks, Judge Reeds expressed disappointment that Maher had relapsed after receiving help, stating, “The courts gave you a chance to show that this behavior was out of character for you, and gave you the necessary help to change. These images are not to be seen in isolation. Somewhere, a real child is being abused in the most despicable way in order to make these images and videos.”