VINCENT NEALE FROM MARLOW ESCAPES PRISON AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES IN AYLESBURY

In a case that has shocked the community of Marlow, Vincent Neale, a 53-year-old resident of Gossmore Lane, was found guilty of possessing and creating indecent images of children. The incident came to light during a police raid on his home on July 6 of the previous year, which uncovered a disturbing collection of illicit material stored on his personal devices.

Police officers discovered a total of 938 images on a memory stick and an additional 383 images on Neale’s computer. These images were described in court as 'horrendous and disgusting,' with a significant number classified at a level four rating, indicating the second most graphic category of such material. The images depicted young girls aged between five and fifteen, with some photographs showing children who appeared to be crying, highlighting the disturbing nature of the content.

The court proceedings revealed that Neale had been downloading these images over a period of approximately two years, up until June 2009. The images had been deleted from his devices, and police found them in 'lost' files during their investigation. The court heard that Neale admitted to the charges of making indecent images of a child during an earlier hearing.

In mitigation, Neale’s defense attorney, Adrian Amer, explained that his client had deleted the images in 2009 and claimed that Neale had been overwhelmed by guilt and distress upon police showing him the evidence in July 2009. Mr. Amer stated that Neale had attempted to take his own life the following day, illustrating the profound impact of the discovery on him.

Further context was provided regarding Neale’s personal struggles. His lawyer mentioned that he had endured a difficult relationship with his first wife, who was diagnosed with cancer, and that Neale himself had suffered from depression. The defense argued that Neale believed he had deleted the images and that he had stored them on the memory stick out of fear that others might see them on his computer.

Despite the remorse expressed, the judge, John Sheridan, emphasized the severity of the crimes. He described the images as a 'vile quantity of disgusting images,' emphasizing that all depicted young females, with some images potentially involving children under the age of consent. The judge pointed out that the images were truly horrendous and that anyone attracted to such material was 'sick.' He highlighted that at least one image showed a crying child, underscoring the victimization involved.

Judge Sheridan stated that a prison sentence was necessary not only to punish Neale but also to serve as a deterrent and to protect children from such exploitation. Recognizing Neale’s guilty plea and efforts to address his wrongdoings, the judge sentenced him to a four-month prison term, suspended for two years. Additionally, Neale was placed under a 30-month supervision order, and his computer equipment was ordered to be destroyed. He was also subjected to a Sex Offenders’ Register requirement for five years, which restricts his access to computers and contact with females under 16 without supervision. The court also ordered him to pay costs amounting to £500.

Neale’s case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against child exploitation and the importance of rigorous law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes, even when the offender receives a suspended sentence.