WARREN HENDERSON FROM SMARDEN JAILED FOR NEARLY 18,000 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN ASHFORD

In August 2015, Warren Henderson, a man from Smarden, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison after being found guilty of possessing an alarming collection of almost 18,000 indecent images of children. Henderson, who described himself as a writer and photographer, was caught in a compromising situation involving an underage girl in the bushes of Ashford. He claimed at the time that he was conducting research for a new book, a justification that was met with skepticism by authorities and witnesses alike.

According to the prosecution, Jim Harvey, during a hearing at Canterbury Crown Court, Henderson had been observed with the young girl in Victoria Park, Ashford. Witnesses reported that Henderson had purchased various items for what appeared to be a photo shoot, including a feather boa, jewelry, fairy lights, and glitter. These items, combined with his actions, raised concerns among bystanders who noticed his suspicious behavior.

Police investigations revealed disturbing details about Henderson’s activities. When officers examined the photographs he had taken, they discovered that the images were not innocent as he claimed. Instead, they depicted the young girl in a sexually explicit manner, with Henderson having pointed his camera down her top, indicating a clear intent to produce indecent material.

Henderson, of Glebe Close, Smarden, admitted to six charges related to the creation and possession of indecent photographs of children. The court heard that the images he possessed were illegal and that his actions constituted grooming behavior, especially given his previous convictions for sex offenses. The judge, James O’Mahony, emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating that Henderson had been grooming the child during the incident.

In delivering the sentence, Judge O’Mahony underscored the gravity of Henderson’s offenses, which involved exploiting a vulnerable young girl and amassing a significant collection of illegal images. The court’s decision reflected the need to protect children from such predatory behavior and to hold offenders accountable for their actions.