MULTIPLE paedophiles have faced the courts in Hampshire in recent months.
From possessing thousands of indecent images to arranging to meet children for sex, here are the people who have been sentenced in Southampton:
Mark Mengham
Mengham, a security guard from Alfred Close, Totton was found to have sent sexual images to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl.
The 60-year-old had however been in contact with a decoy profile being run by the "paedophile hunting" group, No Excuses.
A court heard that despite being told she was just 13, Mengham asked for naked photos and even sent a video showing him pleasuring himself.
He was jailed for nine months but suspended for two years, ordered to complete 40 rehabilitation sessions pay a victim surcharge and court costs and register as a sex offender.
He also made a sexual harm prevention order to last for the next five years.
READ MORE HERE
Warren Bone
Bone was arrested in August after a manhunt was launched when he failed to attend court for sentencing.
Portsmouth Crown Court later heard how he had been found with more than 9,000 indecent images of children.
After initially denying knowledge of the images that were downloaded to his computer, Bone told police he had a drug problem and would look at the images for his own self-gratification.
The 53-year-old of Cranleigh Road, Fareham was jailed for three years and seven months.
READ MORE HERE
Christian Williams
When police executed a warrant at Williams' address in Captains Place, Southampton, they found more than 770 indecent images.
A court heard how the 36-year-old admitted to having a "sexual interest in young girls".
It was said that he had also watched a live stream of abuse relating to young children as well as engaging in conversation with someone who was pretending to be a young child.
Appearing at Southampton Crown Court he was sentenced to 12 months in jail suspended for two years, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order banning him from having contact with girls under the age of 16 and ordered to complete 45 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He must also sign on to the sex offenders register for the next 10 years.
READ MORE HERE
James Ashman
Ashman downloaded more than 18,000 indecent images of children during lockdown, Southampton Crown Court was told.
The 42-year-old of Howard Road, Southampton was caught with 140 category A images, the most severe type, 123 category B images and 18,365 category C images of children.
It was said that there was “distress in some of the children’s actions” in the images that were all found on one single hardrive.
Ashman later admitted to downloading the images saying: “I did download some dodgy [stuff] during lockdown".
He was handed a three-year community order, ordered to do 15 rehabilitation activity days and complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
He is now also subject to a five-year sexual prevention order and was ordered to pay £300 costs and a surcharge.
READ MORE HERE
Neil Hopkinson
Police seized a computer tower belonging to Hopkinson after he shared a picture in an online chatroom.
Eight images showing child abuse were discovered but defending the 71-year-old from Furze Close, Richard Tutt said he had been bored and “looking for adult pornography”.
But Judge Christopher Parker QC said it was apparent that he had a "clear sexual interest in children" for quite some time.
Hopkinson was jailed for nine months, suspended for two years and ordered to do 45 rehabilitation activity days.
He was also handed ten year a sexual harm prevention order and must pay £600 costs.
READ MORE HERE
Frank Salmon
Salmon was arrested after he arranged to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old boy at McDonald’s in Shirley.
The 54-year-old of Harbourne Gardens, West End met the boy, who was actually an undercover police officer, on the gay hook-up app, Grindr.
Moving the conversation to the chat app, Kik, he started to talk sexually to the covert officer, asking him about private parts of his body and talking about sex.
He was arrested and later jailed for 28 months.
He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and made to sign the sex offenders' register for the next five years.
READ MORE HERE
George Gibbs
Gibbs, 55, of Harefield Road, was reported to police on September 27, 2020, following incidents in July 2018.
He was charged with two counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13.
This related to incidents with two separate girls.
Failing to attend the conclusion of his trial, he was found guilty and appeared at Southampton Crown Court for sentencing.
He was jailed for 10 years and three months.
READ MORE HERE
A message from the Editor
Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.
Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.
You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.
Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.
Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook
Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article