RICHARD PORTER FROM BEVERLEY AND TICKTON JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Beverley and Tickton, Richard Porter, a 59-year-old man employed as a school crossing patrol officer, has been sentenced to prison after being found in possession of an extensive collection of child pornography. The investigation was part of a nationwide crackdown on individuals involved in viewing and possessing indecent images of minors.

Authorities launched a targeted operation after receiving credible intelligence indicating that Porter had been using his credit card to access websites hosting illegal content involving children. A search warrant was executed at his residence on Eske Lane in Tickton, a village near Beverley, revealing a staggering amount of illicit material stored across multiple computer hard drives.

The police uncovered a total of 5,500 indecent images depicting young girls as young as four years old, along with 94 video clips containing similar content. The images were classified across various levels of severity, with over 3,000 images at the lowest level of indecency, while 870 images and 56 videos were categorized at the most severe levels of exploitation. The material primarily featured young girls under the age of ten, with some images of children aged between four and fifteen.

At the time of his arrest, Porter was working as a relief crossing patrol officer in the East Riding area, a role that involves safeguarding children as they travel to and from school. However, prosecutors clarified that there was no evidence linking his criminal activities directly to his professional duties.

During the court proceedings, Wendy Foster, the prosecutor, emphasized that Porter's offending was not connected to his work, but his actions nonetheless caused significant concern. His legal representative, Ian Phillip, acknowledged his client’s remorse, stating, “He knows the court has very little sympathy and is crushed by his behaviour. He doesn’t dispute that he paid for a subscription to a site that allowed him to view these images. He can only describe his conduct afterward as something akin to addiction.”

Judge Michael Mettyear, sitting at Hull Crown Court, sentenced Porter to eight months in prison. Additionally, Porter has been ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and has been issued a sexual offences prevention order that will remain in effect for five years. This order prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children and from residing in a household with minors.

Porter had previously admitted to 16 counts of making indecent images of children at Beverley Magistrates’ Court. In response to the case, a spokesperson for East Riding Council confirmed that Porter is no longer employed by the authority, indicating that the organization has taken steps to distance itself from his actions. The case has sparked widespread concern among residents of Beverley and Tickton, highlighting the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from harm.