PETER O’BRIAN, FORMER COUNCILLOR FROM HATFIELD, SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In June 2008, Peter O’Brien, a 46-year-old former councillor from Drakes Way, Hatfield, was sentenced at Cheshunt Magistrates Court after admitting to possessing and making indecent images of children. O’Brien, who was involved with the Welwyn Hatfield Conservative Association and served as a representative for Welham Green, received a three-year community order and is currently undergoing rehabilitation for his actions.

He pleaded guilty to 11 counts of creating indecent images of children and two counts of possession of such images. The police apprehended him at Stansted Airport in October following the discovery of the images on a council computer during a holiday.

An investigation uncovered more than 6,000 images and videos on his laptop. Detective Inspector Paul Doran, head of the Paedophile Unit, stated: "We treat images depicting the abuse of children extremely seriously and will always take action against those responsible. Viewing or downloading images of this nature is not a victimless crime — those children have been exploited and are victims. Despite O’Brien holding an important position in the community, he thought it was acceptable to view these images when it was clearly not."

Doran added that by admitting the offences, O’Brien acknowledged his actions were unacceptable and that his attendance at a rehabilitation programme was a positive step in managing his sexual interests.

O’Brien was also issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from purchasing or using software aimed at deleting evidence of his activity on a computer. Additionally, he has been disqualified from working with children, fined £300 in costs, and mandated to register as a sex offender.

Expressing gratitude for the cooperation, David Dadds, a police representative, thanked Welwyn and Hatfield Council for their support during the investigation.