SHAUN SCOTTHORNE FROM MIDDLESBOROUGH SENTENCED IN SOUTHAMPTON FOR CHILD INDECENCY IMAGES

In a significant case that highlights ongoing concerns about child exploitation and online abuse, Shaun Scotthorne, a 41-year-old resident of Middlesborough, has been handed a substantial prison sentence following his arrest and subsequent investigation into the possession of indecent images of children.

Scotthorne was brought before Southampton Crown Court on Monday, 18 September, where he received a sentence of 26 months behind bars. The court's decision also included the imposition of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a measure designed to restrict his future activities and protect the public from potential harm. Additionally, Scotthorne is now required to register his personal details with the police indefinitely, in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which aims to monitor individuals convicted of sexual offences.

The legal proceedings stem from a hearing held earlier at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 13 June. During this hearing, Scotthorne pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including taking an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, as well as three counts of making such images. His admission of guilt marked a significant step in the case, which was initiated by police investigations into his activities.

The arrest took place in June 2021 at an address in Southampton, where officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) executed a search warrant. During the raid, they seized two mobile phones and a memory card belonging to Scotthorne. The devices were subsequently examined by specialists from ICAT, who uncovered a disturbing collection of images.

Analysis of the seized devices revealed hundreds of images depicting child abuse. The images were classified into various categories based on their severity, with 137 images falling into Category C, 53 into Category B, and 64 into the most serious Category A. The investigation also uncovered five extreme images and 57 prohibited images, underscoring the severity of the material found. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat online child exploitation and bring offenders to justice.