January 2015
Paedophile pensioner and pillar of Beaworthy community jailed for child rape images
A FORMER pub landlord has been jailed after police found sickening images of child rape on his computer.
Pensioner Gerald Bolton was a pillar of the community in the North Devon village where he lived but his apparently respectable life as a churchgoer and charity helper hid a dark secret.
He was addicted to watching internet images and movies showing children as young as 18 months screaming in pain and distress as they were abused.
Bolton became so dependent on the images that he took them with him on two memory sticks when he went on holiday to Cyprus.
His home was raided while he was away and police found so many images on his computers they gave up counting when they reached 17,000 even though these less than a thirtieth of the total.
His arrest led to him being shunned by some neighbours even though he was described a being “part of the weft and weave of the village” by his local vicar in Ashwater, near Beaworthy.
Bolton had provided a temporary home for the village pub when it burned down 15 years ago and also gave land to the local football club for their pitch and changing rooms.
He was a father and grandfather who had never been in any kind of trouble until he was flagged up by an investigation into abuse images by police in Wiltshire.
Bolton, aged 70, of Fairchild, Ashwater, admitted 12 offences of making or possessing indecent or prohibited images of children and four of possessing extreme pornography and two firearms charges.
He was jailed for 20 months by Recorder Mr Rufus Taylor at Exeter Crown Court. He told him: “Fortunately the court has been spared having to view the images but they are described in a schedule.
“There is a description of one of the items. I will not describe what is happening to the girl but she is aged about 18 months to two years and the effect on her is evident.
“Her face is not shown but she is clearly heard crying and screaming for her mother and is in great distress and discomfort. That, I am afraid, is the reality of your offending.
“I have considered suspending this sentence. I recognise that you require rehabilitation and it is a very difficult balance. However, having considered in particular the number of images in particular, I cannot do so.”
Emily Pitts, for the prosecution, said Bolton was traced through his internet address after using peer to peer software to receive images from another user, who was being investigated by police in Wiltshire.
She said his home was raided while he was on holiday in Cyprus in autumn 2013 and 29 computer related items seized and examined. He was found with two more memory sticks when he was arrested on his return.
He made no comment about the images but told police ammunition found in a safe was left over from his days as a licensed gun user and which he had never got round to surrendering.
Miss Pitts said images or movies were found on 11 pieces of equipment of which only four were examined in detail.
She said: “There were a very large number of images of which only 2.7 per cent were analysed and listed by officers and 13.6 per cent of movies. There were terabytes of storage on the equipment.
“Police also found a number of search terms which had been used including ‘mum and daughter sex’. Bookmarks had saved some child abuse sites.
“The items on the memory sticks had been deleted but were recovered by police and contained images he had taken on holiday with him to Cyprus.
“He was asked if he had a sexual interest in children and answered ‘not as such’.”
She said there were 795 images and 39 movies at the most serious category A, which effectively covers child rape; 1,108 stills and 29 moves at category B, showing less serious abuse; and 15,304 stills and 22 movies at category C, which shows child nudity.
Christopher Andrews, fro the defence, said Bolton has now acknowledged there was a sexual motive and is therefore suitable for a sex offenders’ treatment programme, which he could only receive with a suspended sentence.
He said: “He has played an active part in village life to the extent he started a pub in his own home when the local pub burned down. In one sense it has made it more difficult for him being part of the community.
“His reputation and standing have been utterly destroyed and every day he has to go out and face people who know what he has done. He has received some support but there are people who have turned their back on him.
“He is ashamed, embarrassed and remorseful. He got involved in this initially through curiosity and it turned into an addiction. He lost his way and lived a fantasy life through his computer.”
He passed the Judge references from Rev Jane Lucas and Bolton’s wife Susan, who has been married to him for 26 years.
The vicar’s letter said he was “part of the weft and weave of the parish for the past 25 years”. His wife said he was a “good and kind man who was always willing to help others regardless of the cost to himself”
