SIMON KIRKHAM FROM NEWPORT CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND ANIMAL PORNOGRAPHY IN JONES

In December 2019, a disturbing case emerged involving Simon Kirkham, a resident of Newport, who was found to have downloaded and possessed highly disturbing images depicting child abuse and extreme animal pornography. The incident came to light after police officers executed a search warrant at his residence on Caerphilly Road in Newport last year.

During the raid, law enforcement officials uncovered a collection of illicit material stored on various electronic devices belonging to Kirkham. Prosecutor Ruth Smith revealed that among the files discovered were images classified as Category A, which represent the most severe form of child abuse imagery. These images depicted children as young as five years old being subjected to sexual assault, with a total of six such still images identified.

In addition to the Category A photographs, authorities also found three images categorized as B and an additional 63 images classified as C, indicating a range of severity in the material. The evidence was gathered from multiple electronic devices, underscoring the extent of Kirkham’s possession of these illegal images.

At Cardiff Crown Court, Kirkham, aged 34 and residing on Caerphilly Road, appeared with his head bowed throughout the proceedings. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing extreme animal pornography. The offences were committed in September 2018.

Judge Richard Twomlow addressed the court, noting that possession of Category A images typically results in an immediate prison sentence. However, considering Kirkham’s lack of prior convictions and the potential for rehabilitation, the judge decided against incarceration. Instead, he imposed a community order lasting three years.

As part of the court’s sentence, Kirkham is required to complete 180 hours of unpaid community work and attend 36 sessions of the Horizon sex offender treatment program. Additionally, he must contribute £300 towards prosecution costs and pay a victim surcharge. The court also mandated that Kirkham register as a sex offender for an unspecified period, details of which were not disclosed publicly.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of illegal and harmful images, and underscores the serious legal consequences faced by individuals involved in such activities.