A 61-year-old man from Dartford has been sentenced today (Wednesday 18 November) at Maidstone Crown Court to 12 months in prison for making and possessing indecent images of children.

Bernard Arthur Payne, formerly of Mead Crescent, had pleaded guilty to seven counts of making indecent images and nine counts of possessing indecent images.

Payne also received a sexual offences prevention order for seven years and is required to sign the Sex Offenders Register.

'Sickening images and graphic movies' 

Detective Constable Mikaela Stevens, who led the investigation, said: 'Payne had viewed and stored a large number of sickening images and graphic movies featuring abuse of children. Every picture and every video is a child being exploited and the use of child abuse images is not a victimless crime.'

Kent Police executed a search warrant at Payne's home on 29 January, during which officers from the public protection unit seized computer and storage equipment for analysis. Payne was arrested the same day.

Extensive digital forensic investigations uncovered 346 images and 215 movie clips, totalling around 39 hours of footage, of children rating from levels one to five. Of those, five images and 21 movie clips were rated as level five - the most serious, depicting sadism or bestiality with children. 

'No excuse'

Detective Superintendent Paul Fotheringham added: 'Kent Police remains determined to seek out those individuals who abuse children and are engaged in child abuse image offences. We are committed to identifying offenders and bringing them before the courts.

'There is no excuse for viewing, downloading or searching for images of children suffering abuse. These are images of real children where a child is suffering real abuse and we will continue to work, together with partner agencies, including CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre), to stop this horrific crime.'

Report crime

Anyone who has information about this type of crime can report it by contacting Kent Police on 01622 690690 or call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Anyone involved in this type of crime who wants to stop can visit the Stop It Now website.

Posted on: 18 November 2009