TERRY MILLS FROM CROYDON JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the local community of Croydon, Terry Mills, a 58-year-old man known for his work as a zoologist and his involvement in the local magistrates' court, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for possessing and distributing indecent images of children. Mills, often referred to as 'The Zoo Man' due to his frequent visits to primary schools to showcase exotic reptiles, led a double life that starkly contrasted his public persona.

According to court proceedings at Southwark Crown Court, Mills was found to have engaged in the viewing and downloading of highly disturbing material related to child exploitation. The investigation was initiated after police discovered his details on a notorious pedophile website. Between December 2003 and September of the previous year, Mills downloaded a total of 190 images and video clips depicting children under the age of 18 in various states of sexual abuse. The material included children adopting sexual poses, being subjected to sexual violence, and, alarmingly, some images and videos showing children involved in sadomasochistic acts or being forced into sexual acts with animals.

Police executed a search warrant at Mills' residence on Arundel Road, Croydon, on September 18 last year. During the raid, authorities seized two of his computers. Mills claimed that he was a victim of identity theft, asserting that his credit card details had been stolen and that the incriminating files had been planted on his devices. Despite this, investigators found that both computers contained sophisticated deletion software designed to erase data, yet they were still able to recover numerous illicit images. The police noted that the computers had been improperly shut down, with the power cords pulled out, which complicated the recovery process.

Throughout the trial, Mills maintained his innocence, denying all charges and suggesting that someone else was responsible for planting the images on his computers. His defense attorney, David Osborne, argued that the conviction had a devastating impact on Mills' reputation, emphasizing his contributions to society as a zoologist and his previous work in building musical instruments.

Judge Peter Testar addressed the court, highlighting Mills' background and the severity of the crimes. He pointed out that Mills had contributed positively to society through his work and teaching, but emphasized the grave nature of the offenses. The judge remarked on the disturbing market for such material, noting that it is driven by profit and that children are exploited to produce these images. He stated, 'Somebody somewhere is making money out of it. It is passed from one person to another and ultimately somewhere there is a child who is exploited for the purposes of creating the image.'

Ultimately, Mills was convicted on 11 counts of making indecent images of children. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a period of ten years, reflecting the serious concern surrounding his actions and the potential risk to the community. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting vulnerable victims.