STANISLAW LENARTOWICZ CHARGED IN CHRISTCHURCH FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND EXTREME MATERIALS

In April 2021, a man from Christchurch, Stanislaw Lenartowicz, appeared in court facing serious charges related to the possession of indecent images of children and extreme pornography. The case revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior spanning over a decade, during which Lenartowicz downloaded hundreds of illicit images and videos depicting child abuse. Despite the gravity of these findings, he managed to avoid a custodial sentence, receiving instead a community-based punishment.

Authorities became aware of Lenartowicz’s activities after intelligence suggested that his computer was accessing an online chat platform. This platform was believed to be used for viewing or sharing child pornography. The police acted swiftly, executing search warrants at two properties linked to the defendant in 2017. During these searches, officers seized multiple electronic devices, including laptops, hard drives, and USB sticks. The process of examining the seized equipment was extensive, taking a considerable amount of time to analyze the data thoroughly.

Following the investigation, Lenartowicz was formally charged in the previous year. His case was brought before Bournemouth Crown Court, where he ultimately pleaded guilty to multiple charges. Specifically, he admitted to three counts of possessing indecent images of children, one count of possessing extreme pornography, and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child. Prosecutor Tim Bradbury outlined the details of the police operation, stating that on September 18, 2017, officers executed a warrant at Lenartowicz’s residence on Beaconsfield Road, Christchurch. The police had been alerted to the fact that a computer at this address was being used to access Chatstep, an online chat site that raised concerns due to its accessibility without registration or account creation.

At the time of the search, Lenartowicz was not present at his Christchurch home. The authorities recovered a significant amount of computer hardware, including laptops, hard drives, and USB devices. Further investigations led to a second search at a property in Worcester Park, Surrey, where additional equipment was seized. Throughout the process, Lenartowicz cooperated with police, providing passwords for the devices. He was subsequently interviewed voluntarily the following day, during which he claimed that his online activity was solely for viewing adult pornography. He expressed that he found the idea of child pornography disgusting and did not believe any such images would be present on his devices.

However, forensic analysis revealed otherwise. Multiple devices contained indecent images of children, with some images appearing on more than one device. Some images were still accessible, while others had been deleted. The police identified a total of 45 Category A images, which are classified as the most serious, along with 33 Category B images and a staggering 1,307 Category C images. The collection also included extreme pornography and a prohibited image of a child. In January of the following year, police re-interviewed Lenartowicz after discovering these materials. During this session, he admitted to regularly downloading pornography and expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “If I did it, I did it.”

Despite his admissions, he maintained that he had no interest in children and did not derive any sexual gratification from them. The court was informed that the case involved possession and downloading of images, not sharing or uploading them. Judge Stephen Climie acknowledged the potential for rehabilitation but issued a stern warning about the seriousness of viewing such material. He emphasized that those who consume child abuse images are as culpable as those who perpetrate the abuse itself, warning Lenartowicz that he would be under court supervision for the next five years. As part of his sentence, Lenartowicz was given a three-year community order, which includes a four-month overnight curfew and up to 40 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he was subject to a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for five years, marking a significant legal response to his crimes.