PETER SHIRT FROM EMSWORTH SENTENCED AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY IN PORTSMOUTH

In October 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving a pensioner from Emsworth named Peter Shirt, who was found to possess an alarming collection of indecent images of children on his personal computer. The investigation revealed that over 500 such images, depicting children as young as four years old, were stored on his device, raising serious concerns about the exploitation and abuse of minors.

Peter Shirt appeared before Portsmouth Crown Court to face multiple charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children, which included 69 images classified as Category A—the most severe category—58 images in Category B, and 372 images in Category C. Additionally, Shirt admitted to two counts of distributing indecent photographs, which involved one Category A image and six Category C images.

Prosecutor Matthew Lawson provided details of the case, explaining that Shirt was arrested on October 2, 2017, after police traced an IP address linked to an upload of an indecent picture. Law enforcement officials did not find Shirt at his residence at the time but obtained his consent over the phone to examine his computer. Once the device was inspected, authorities discovered the images that formed the basis of the charges, which dated from May 2016 to October 2017.

The images depicted children as young as four, with other photographs showing minors aged between five and six. The severity of the images was underscored by the presence of Category A photographs, which are considered the most harmful and disturbing. Police also uncovered chat logs on Shirt’s computer dating back to early 2014; however, these logs were not included in the charges. The logs contained highly disturbing material, and while Shirt had sent photographs, it remains unclear what the content of those images was.

During police interviews, Shirt, aged 67, denied actively searching for such images online, claiming instead that he had merely come across them. He also denied having any sexual attraction towards children, asserting that he was not responsible for seeking out the material. Despite his claims, the evidence against him was substantial.

Shirt, who had no prior criminal record, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to comply with a sexual harm prevention order and to register as a sex offender. He was also required to pay court costs of £350 and a victim surcharge of £140. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of the offenses and the need to monitor Shirt’s conduct moving forward.

Matthew Farmer, representing Shirt, explained that his client was a carer for his wife, who has learning disabilities, and described him as a “very lonely man” at the time the offenses occurred. The case highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding the possession and distribution of child exploitation material, especially involving individuals from seemingly ordinary backgrounds in communities such as Emsworth.