A convicted child sex offender was caught with Category A indecent images after concerns about him photographing children at Shanklin Regatta prompted a Police investigation.
Kevin Weeden, of Victoria Avenue in Shanklin, previously admitted 2 charges of making indecent images when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court back in June.
The 67-year-old appeared before magistrates for sentencing earlier this week (Tuesday), following completion of a pre-sentence report.
It was in August 2023 that parents attending Shanklin Regatta raised reports of a man taking photos of children at the popular event.
Among those concerned was an off-duty Police officer who managed to identify the man as Weeden, with the 67-year-old subsequently arrested and his house searched.
During that search, officers seized a phone, a tower PC and photography gear. Thorough examinations of those devices found a total of 10 indecent child images in Weeden’s possession.
The images, including 3x Category A and 7x Category B images, depicted children as young as between 3 and 5 years old, the court heard. No indecent images were found to have been taken during Shanklin Regatta.
Weeden, who was a volunteer photographer for the Isle of Wight Observer, was not working for them at Shanklin Regatta.
The court heard how Weeden was placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for life back in 2000 after he was convicted of 12 indecent assaults against an underage girl. On that occasion, he was jailed for 21 months.
At today’s hearing, Nola Bond for the Crown Prosecution Service told court that Weeden believed he didn’t need to disclose his previous convictions because he was a volunteer rather than a paid employee.
Weeden initially claimed he was ‘shocked’ to see the images and had ‘no idea’ where they had come from. In a second police interview, he continued to say he had ‘no idea’ how the images were present but that that he would ‘take responsibility’.
Among Weeden’s internet history were searches for ‘YouTube Kids’ and ‘do girls have pubic hair at the age of 9?’, the court heard.
Defending the 67-year-old, Tom Cooke said that his client wishes to engage with the probation service.
Magistrates, who deliberated for around 30 minutes, handed Weeden an 8-month prison sentence, suspended for 2 years. As part of the suspended sentence order he was ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation activity days.
A 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed and Weeden was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £187 surcharge fee.
Weeden remains on the sex offenders register for life.
In response to the conviction, an Isle of Wight Observer spokesperson has said:
“Kevin Weeden supplied photographs of sporting and public events to the IW Observer and was credited accordingly. He also supplied images to other media outlets and IW organisations. He was never employed by or paid by the IW Observer.
“The police contacted us 3 years ago to establish the facts and made it clear the IW Observer had done nothing wrong and there was no issue with any contributed images and no restrictions on him taking photographs.
“We have heard nothing further from the police and were never approached for a statement or to give evidence.
“The IW Observer takes safeguarding seriously and will always co-operate fully with the police where any concerns are raised.”
Another too lenient sentence which should have been an immediate prison sentence for the scumbag.
Have you applied to be a Magistrate? If you want to make a difference you need to get involved not just criticise others
Why would you want to be part of such an inept group who have no idea of reality
Island residents keep fearing migrants moving to the island.
The ones they should be worried about are the local persons
already living on the island, many may have even been born on the island.
Give migrants a fair chance before jumping to conclusions
THERE ARE GOOD AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE
“ALL PEOPLE”
Amen
“THERE ARE GOOD AND BAD IN ALL PEOPLE”
Except for those who have multi-identities.
Why else would they have multi-identities?
Well said JS83!!
What the hell??? Migrants murder children and take women ! They are both as bad as each other!
So do other persons who are born and bred in the
UK
Once they are here it will be too late. No island woman will be safe, or feel safe, and there will be no more walking anywhere alone anymore.
And another one!!!!
So if he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register in 2000, WTF is he still walking about 26 years later still doing the same thing. Bloody nonce should have been jailed back then.
If he had been (and he might for all we know) he would be out by now. Not every offence carries a life sentence
Another nonce getting a slap on the wrist ,This was 2023 this nonce has been out no dout up to his noncing 8 month suspended that’s it seems the magistrates and police are a bit scared of the island nonces we gotta protect our kids from these abominations hang em high