WOMAN HAD 500 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES ON PHONE
Update 11/12/2025: At Swindon Magistrates' Court on Monday, 34-year-old Samantha Franklin from Cove House Gardens in Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, with the term suspended for 18 months.More than 200 of the images she had were classified as the most serious, and Wiltshire Police's senior investigator, Det Con Jason Walsh, described her crimes as "abhorrent." Franklin was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and the court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of her phone.
She was also ordered to pay a £186 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.
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A woman from Wiltshire has admitted to downloading numerous images of child abuse with the intention of aiding the harassment of a paedophile hunter, a court heard.
Samantha Franklin stored 556 indecent images of children on her device, with 207 classified as the most harmful category.
The police investigation was triggered after the 34-year-old contacted a paedophile hunter via Facebook, describing in disturbing detail her alleged abuse of children and a dog.
There was no evidence of her harming actual children or animals.
She was charged and later convicted of malicious communications.
On September 19, 2025, she was sentenced to an 18-month community order, which included 12 mental health sessions.
She was also issued a restraining order banning contact with the paedophile hunter for a year.
Further forensic examination of her confiscated device revealed the disturbing collection of images.
Franklin appeared before Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, November 4.
At her initial hearing, dressed in a long pink floral dress, she pleaded guilty to three counts of creating indecent images of children across all categories of severity.
The Crown prosecution requested that the case be referred to the crown court, citing the large volume of images as beyond magistrates’ sentencing limits.
Lawyer Jeremy Colenso stated: “She doesn’t fit the stereotype… the first question is why?
Well, she claims to have been conducting research, supposedly to better harass the paedophile hunter.” District Judge Joanna Dickens decided to keep the case within the magistrates’ court but warned Franklin it could be transferred for sentencing.
“I am keeping the case here—for now—but it may be sent to the crown court for sentencing.
You should be aware the court has the power to imprison you.
I will give you another date to return and speak with probation regarding a pre-sentence report—scheduled for 8 December.” After consulting further instructions from Franklin, Mr.
Colenso added: “She prefers to go on holiday on that date, but she understands how important this matter is.” Judge Dickens reacted with a hint of skepticism: “Uh, yes… it’s about as important as it gets.” Franklin then expressed her desire to take a holiday, acknowledging the seriousness of the case.
The judge informed her that, as a resident of Cove House Gardens in Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire, she must register as a sex offender within 72 hours.
“You’re required to register on the sex offenders’ register.
Within three days, you must visit your local police station to provide personal details.
Failure to do so could lead to prison.”
