THOMAS HOARE'S HORRIFIC CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CRIME IN SOWERBY BRIDGE AND HALIFAX

In December 2009, a disturbing case emerged involving Thomas Hoare, a man from Sowerby Bridge, who was sentenced to four months in prison after being found guilty of possessing an alarming collection of child pornography. The investigation revealed that Hoare, aged 49 and a father of one, had accumulated a staggering total of 6,274 indecent images of children on his personal computer.

The authorities conducted a search of Hoare’s residence at Water Hill Lane, Sowerby Bridge, on November 13 of the previous year. During this operation, police seized his computer and a separate hard drive for forensic analysis. The examination uncovered a disturbing folder labeled “Personnel,” which contained subfolders filled with explicit material involving minors. The images ranged from relatively less severe to extremely graphic, including those depicting torture and sadistic acts.

Prosecutor Gerald Hendron detailed the extent of the material, stating that the images were categorized into different levels of severity: 5,919 at level one, 213 at level two, 61 at level three, 341 at level four, and 15 at level five, the latter involving acts of violence, torture, and sadomasochism. Hoare admitted to possessing these images and revealed to police that he had been viewing such material two to three times weekly, dedicating two to three hours per session. He also confessed that he had been searching for child pornography on his devices.

Hoare, who was described as an engineer with no prior criminal record, expressed remorse during police interviews. He told officers that he regretted his actions and was seeking help for his behavior. The court was informed that he was divorced and had an 11-year-old daughter, adding a personal dimension to the case.

During the hearing at Bradford Crown Court, the prosecution clarified that Hoare had not engaged in the distribution or production of the images, but the possession itself was deemed a serious offense. His legal representative, Tamara Pawson, explained that Hoare’s initial curiosity led him to visit adult websites that contained links to child pornography, which he then viewed out of curiosity, ultimately leading to his current predicament. She also noted that Hoare was undergoing psychological treatment for depression and had been referred to a specialist.

Judge Robert Bartfield sentenced Hoare to immediate custody, emphasizing that while he had not directly harmed any children, the images he possessed involved minors who had been exploited to produce such material. The judge highlighted the broader societal issue, stating, “If people controlled their appetites, there would be no market for that and children would not be forced into the position of having to become involved in those activities.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Hoare was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from accessing internet sites related to children. Furthermore, he was placed on the Sex Offender Register for a period of seven years. Hoare’s address was listed as Lowerfold Apartments, Bull Green, Halifax, underscoring the local impact of this disturbing case.