TERRENCE HAYWARD FROM CLEVEDON CAUGHT WITH OVER 31,500 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN BRISTOL COURT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Clevedon, a 71-year-old sound engineer named Terrence Hayward has been found guilty of possessing an alarming number of indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed that Hayward, a resident of Cherry Avenue in Clevedon, had downloaded and stored more than 31,500 illicit images, including 324 videos depicting child abuse. The offences spanned over a period of more than a decade, from July 2005 to November 2017, highlighting a long-standing pattern of disturbing behavior.

During the hearing at Bristol Crown Court, Judge James Patrick was informed of Hayward’s criminal history, which, notably, included a previous conviction from approximately twenty years ago. Despite this, Hayward’s recent offences marked a significant escalation in his offending. The court was told that the images and videos found in his possession were of the highest abuse category, with 2,309 still images and 121 videos classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of child exploitation.

Prosecutor Alex Daymund explained that Hayward’s illicit activities were uncovered thanks to the efforts of the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, based in the United States. Following this discovery, police officers visited Hayward’s residence, where they found a staggering collection of illicit material. The authorities seized a Dell computer tower containing 22,000 indecent images, along with additional images and videos stored on two hard drives. The evidence painted a disturbing picture of a man deeply entrenched in the circulation and possession of child abuse material.

At the time of arrest, Hayward initially made limited admissions, refusing to fully cooperate with investigators. He claimed that he had purchased some computer equipment after 2017, but subsequent inquiries revealed that he had owned the equipment for a longer period. The court heard that Hayward’s actions involved not only viewing but also creating indecent images, with a total of 378 indecent movies identified in his possession.

The prosecution emphasized the gravity of the case, and Hayward faced multiple charges of making indecent images of children. The court was also informed that he had a history of offending, although his last conviction was over twenty years ago. Defense counsel Harry Ahuja requested an adjournment to allow for a pre-sentence report, which would assess Hayward’s personal circumstances and potential risk of reoffending. The defense argued that there were significant gaps in his offending history and that he no longer maintained the same attitudes as in the past.

Judge Horton, presiding over the case, acknowledged the seriousness of the offences and indicated that prison was the likely outcome. He granted bail until June 18, 2019, but made it clear that the pre-sentence report would be crucial in determining the length of the prison sentence. Hayward was released on unconditional bail and is scheduled to return to Bristol Crown Court for sentencing next month, where the full extent of his punishment will be decided.

This case has sent shockwaves through the community of Clevedon, raising concerns about the presence of such disturbing individuals within the town and the importance of ongoing vigilance and law enforcement efforts to combat child exploitation.