SYMON BAIN FROM HARTCLIFFE JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES IN BRISTOL

In a case that highlights ongoing concerns about the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, Symon Bain, a 54-year-old resident of Blagrove Close in Hartcliffe, has been sentenced to prison for his continued involvement in such criminal activities despite previous legal restrictions and counseling efforts.

Back in 2015, Bain was subject to a court order that explicitly prohibited him from downloading or searching for child abuse images online. This order was part of a broader legal framework aimed at curbing his access to illegal material. However, despite these restrictions and receiving counseling intended to address his behavior, Bain persisted in his illicit activities. He continued to search for and download thousands of indecent photographs of minors, using highly offensive and revolting search terms that were described as 'filthy and revolting' by the presiding judge.

His actions came under scrutiny at Bristol Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to six charges related to the making of indecent photographs of children. Additionally, Bain admitted to breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order on two separate occasions, further demonstrating his disregard for the legal restrictions placed upon him.

Judge James Patrick, who presided over the case, sentenced Bain to four and a half years in prison. During the sentencing, the judge emphasized the severity of Bain’s addiction to such material and his persistent offending. He stated, 'You were undertaking searches using filthy and revolting search terms. You have a severe addiction to this sort of material and this sort of offending.'

As part of the court's order, Bain’s computer equipment was to be forfeited, ensuring that he would no longer have access to the digital devices that facilitated his illegal activities.

Prosecutor Alistair Haggerty provided additional context, revealing that Bain’s criminal record includes 42 sexual offenses, encompassing possession and distribution of child abuse images. The court heard that in 2015, despite the court order, police linked Bain to inappropriate searches on two occasions. In 2016, authorities discovered that Bain possessed 5,493 images, of which 1,008 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse. After being released on bail and acquiring new computer equipment, Bain was found with an additional 51 images in 2017.

During police interviews, Bain admitted that while counseling had helped reduce his activities, it had not completely eradicated his urges or actions. His case underscores the ongoing challenge of addressing individuals with severe addiction to illegal and harmful material, even after legal interventions and counseling efforts.