NORWEGIAN OFFICER TOR MIKALSEN CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AT NEWCASTLE AIRPORT

In November 2016, a disturbing incident unfolded at Newcastle Airport involving a Norwegian sailor named Tor Mikalsen, who was found in possession of indecent images and photographs of his own genitals. The incident occurred when Mikalsen, a chief officer on a ship, was in the ladies’ toilets at the busy airport, taking explicit photos of himself using his laptop.

His actions drew suspicion when a young girl, who was in the adjacent cubicle, noticed his computer on the floor and became alarmed. She reported her concerns to her father, who then alerted airport staff. Security personnel responded swiftly, locating Mikalsen, who was married and 50 years old, and confiscated his laptop for examination.

Upon inspection, authorities discovered photographs of Mikalsen’s genitals stored on his device. Further investigation revealed the presence of two indecent pseudo images of children—one a sketch depicting child abuse and the other a computer-generated image. These findings caused significant concern, as they indicated the possession of material related to child exploitation, albeit in simulated form.

At the time of the incident, Mikalsen was returning to Norway after working in the UK for three weeks. He admitted to creating the pseudo images, which led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister outlined the details of the case, stating that the offence took place on August 21 of that year. Pallister explained that the girl, aged eight, was using the cubicle next to Mikalsen when she noticed his laptop coming through the partition. Distressed by what she saw, she left the cubicle and informed her father. The father then approached airport staff, who entered the ladies’ toilets and found Mikalsen emerging from the cubicle.

According to Pallister, Mikalsen claimed he was in the toilets by mistake, asserting that he intended to take a photo of his penis to send to a woman he had been communicating with on Facebook. He explained that he had become confused due to his diabetes, which caused him to enter the wrong restroom.

Following his arrest, police examined his laptop and uncovered the photographs of his genitals along with the two pseudo images of children. Importantly, none of the indecent images depicted the girl in the neighboring cubicle.

Judge Paul Sloan QC, presiding over the case, sentenced Mikalsen to three months in prison. The judge acknowledged Mikalsen’s professional background, describing him as a highly qualified individual who was likely to find employment easily after his release. The judge also noted that Mikalsen was experiencing a difficult period, citing health issues and excessive alcohol consumption at the time.

Furthermore, Mikalsen was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for ten years, aimed at restricting his future conduct and safeguarding the public from potential harm.

This case highlights the serious nature of possessing and creating pseudo images of children, even if no actual victims are involved. It also underscores the importance of vigilance in public spaces like airports, where such disturbing incidents can occur unexpectedly and require prompt action by authorities.