A 45 year old man living in Ryde was yesterday (Thursday) sentenced to 28 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to nine offences relating to indecent images of children.
He also pleaded guilty to four voyeurism offences and one charge in relation to supplying false or misleading information to the Charity Commission at a previous hearing.
William (Will) Clark, who lived in Pell Lane – in close proximity to Greenmount Primary School and Ryde Academy – will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (until further order) and a Sex Offender Notice for ten years.
He is previously from Salisbury, where the offences took place.
Almost 1,000 indecent images
The court heard how Mr Clark’s computer was found to contain 943 indecent images and videos of children, some as young as seven, which he had downloaded between 2008 and 2014.
The Salisbury Journal reported the court heard some of the images were “sadistic” featuring children who were “clearly distressed and suffering”.
Secret filming
Police also found footage of men and boys who had been filmed in a Salisbury public toilet through the use of covert cameras.
There were over 40 videos filmed through a hole in the wall, focusing on men’s private parts, but also the faces of younger boys using the urinals.
Lied to the Charity Commission
As well as those offences, the court hear how Mr Clark had supplied false and misleading information to the Charity Commission when he set up ‘The Rainbow Rooms’ – a support group for young Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people (LGBT) – in Salisbury.
He had previously pleaded guilty to nine offences relating to indecent images of children, four voyeurism offences and one charge in relation to supplying false or misleading information to the Charity Commission.
An extensive and thorough investigation
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Jeremy Carter, who led the investigation, said,
“Today’s sentencing is the result of an extensive and thorough investigation.
“Downloading and viewing indecent images and videos of children may seem like a victimless crime, but the reality is that in each and every case a child has been abused in their making and people who download and view child abuse images are fuelling the further abuse of children globally, by adding to the demand for such harmful footage.
“The content of the images found on Clark’s computer can only be described as abhorrent and the sentence imposed today reflects the seriousness of this crime.
“Clark’s list of offences did not stop there he used covert cameras to prey on unsuspecting men in a public toilet for his own gratification.
“He also deceived a large number of people who genuinely wanted to help the young LGBT community in Salisbury. The impact of Clark’s actions will be significant and I hope he can now acknowledge the extent of the harm he has caused.”
Although he was sentenced to 28 months, the judge told Mr Clark he would serve 14 months.
For more detail see the Salisbury Journal report.
