HERTFORD MAN STEPHEN HANKIN JAILED AGAIN FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY

In August 2013, Stephen Hankin, a resident of Hertford, was once again brought before the courts in connection with disturbing allegations involving child abuse images and extreme pornography. The case revealed a troubling pattern of behavior that had persisted despite previous convictions and interventions.

Judge John Plumstead, presiding at St Albans Crown Court, expressed his shock and disapproval of Hankin's actions, emphasizing the gravity of his repeated offenses. The judge highlighted that Hankin, aged 55 and living on Cowper Crescent in Hertford, had previously been convicted in 2008 for downloading indecent images of children, which resulted in a 14-month prison sentence and his registration on the sex offenders register. Despite this prior punishment, Hankin was unable to resist the temptation to re-engage with such material, leading to a new series of charges.

The court heard that Hankin had accumulated a vast collection of depraved images on his computer, numbering into the thousands. These included some of the most heinous types of child abuse images, with 329 photographs depicting children under the age of 10 being subjected to sexual acts. The authorities revealed that during a routine visit by Hertfordshire police's Public Protection Unit, officers discovered that Hankin had continued his illicit activities during 2012, downloading more than 14,000 images of child abuse. The police found that his collection was not only extensive but also particularly disturbing due to the inclusion of the most severe categories of abuse.

Prosecutor Kevin West detailed that the police had conducted a search of Hankin's devices following a visit to his home on Saturday, January 19. The investigation uncovered that Hankin had been actively downloading and storing these images over the course of the previous year. Hankin admitted to police that he was unable to stop himself from viewing and downloading such material, indicating a compulsive behavior.

In addition to the child abuse images, the police found hundreds of extreme pornographic images involving animals, including 231 images of bestiality. The collection also contained numerous movies, with 147 videos discovered across three devices. These videos were graded on a severity scale, with some ranked as the most extreme levels of depravity. The images and videos were rated from level one to five, with level five representing the most severe content. The police's assessment indicated that Hankin's collection included some of the worst material imaginable, with 13,824 images at the lowest severity level and 11 at the highest.

Hankin was charged with multiple offenses, including ten counts of making indecent photographs of a child, two counts of possessing indecent images of a child, and one count of possessing extreme pornography. He pleaded guilty to these charges at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on July 24. The court was informed that his actions had serious repercussions on his personal life, leading to the loss of his employment and the breakdown of his marriage. His wife had moved out, and Hankin expressed remorse for the impact his behavior had on his family.

During the sentencing hearing, defense counsel Tim Nutley argued that Hankin was genuinely remorseful and that he was seeking help to address his compulsive behavior. Nutley emphasized that Hankin hoped to receive treatment while in custody to prevent future offenses.

Judge Plumstead sentenced Hankin to 16 months in prison, ordered his name to be added to the sex offenders register for a period of ten years, and imposed a sexual offences prevention order to restrict his activities further. The case underscores the ongoing challenge of dealing with repeat offenders involved in the possession and distribution of child abuse images, highlighting the importance of rigorous legal and psychological intervention to prevent such heinous crimes.