RAYMOND PARSONS FROM BRADNINCH SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN HOLSWORTHY

In a case that has shocked the local community, Raymond Parsons, a 76-year-old resident of Bradninch, was found guilty of possessing and sharing highly disturbing images depicting child abuse. The incident came to light after police investigations linked him to the distribution of illegal material involving the abuse of young children, including a particularly heinous video of a baby being harmed.

Authorities traced Parsons’ online activity to his home in Holsworthy through his IP address, which revealed that he was actively exchanging these illicit images and videos with others in various chat rooms. The police operation was initiated after reports indicated that Parsons was involved in sharing such material, prompting a detailed investigation.

During the raid in November 2019, law enforcement officers seized several electronic devices from Parsons’ residence, including a USB stick, a desktop computer, and an iPad. Forensic analysis of these devices uncovered a disturbing collection of images and videos. Experts identified 26 images and videos classified as Category A, which depict children suffering severe abuse inflicted by adults. Additionally, there were 50 other images and videos categorized in lower severity levels.

Parsons admitted to the charges, which included three counts of making indecent images of children. He explained to police that he had engaged in conversations with other users via messaging apps, and it was through these exchanges that he received the illegal material. Despite acknowledging that he was aware of the criminality and moral wrongness of his actions, Parsons admitted that viewing these images gave him a thrill.

At Exeter Crown Court, Judge David Evans sentenced Parsons to eight months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for 18 months. The court also ordered Parsons to undertake 12 days of rehabilitation activities, pay costs amounting to £400, and register as a sex offender. The case has raised serious concerns about the presence of such disturbing material within the community and the importance of vigilant law enforcement to combat online child exploitation.