Former children's services' councillor jailed for having 400,000 indecent images (From Watford Observer)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting WO to 80360, or email us
Stephen Holmes, former portfolio holder for children's services at Hertfordshire County Council, jailed for posssessing 400,000 indecent images
3:38pm Friday 19th October 2012 in News
By Ben Endley, Senior reporter
Stephen Holmes
A senior Hertfordshire politician, who held a role overseeing children's services, has been jailed after being found in possession of more than 400,000 indecent images of children.
Stephen Holmes, 61, was sentenced to 10 months in custody at St Albans Crown Court today after admitting 23 counts of possessing indecent images and videos including thousands at level five, the most serious abuse.
The massive cache of images was accumulated over a period of 12 years by Holmes, who resigned as deputy portfolio holder for children’s services at Hertfordshire county council and as a Dacorum borough councillor following his arrest.
Harry Bentley, for Holmes, told the court his client had never sought to abuse his position or gain access to children.
He said: "This is a man with a problem, not a persistent sex offender.
"A somewhat pathetic individual locking himself in a room on his own."
The images were discovered on computer equipment in his Woodhall Farm home in May by police investigating online activity.
The politician, who was also a Dacorum Borough Councillor in Hemel Hempstead and the former mayor of the borough.
Holmes, of Dickens Court, Hemel Hempstead was also handed an indefinite sex offenders prevention order limiting his internet access by Judge John Plumstead.
Comments(11)
Reg Edit
says...
4:18pm Fri 19 Oct 12
comments
says...
4:22pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Considering what his job role was - 10 months - what a joke
He needs to be locked up for at least 10 years!
It make me sick!
Judge needs their head examining!
comments
says...
4:39pm Fri 19 Oct 12
chop his willy off!
Hester19
says...
5:30pm Fri 19 Oct 12
Hester19
says...
5:41pm Fri 19 Oct 12
E.Coli
says...
9:52pm Fri 19 Oct 12
mile high ron
says...
10:40pm Fri 19 Oct 12
TRT
says...
5:51pm Sat 20 Oct 12
LSC
says...
7:23pm Sat 20 Oct 12
TRT wrote:I'm not sure who the CPS answers to; is it actually the Queen or is it the Home Secretary?
CPS can appeal against the sentence if they feel it was inappropriate and a longer sentence would serve the public interest. The appeal system runs both ways.
Either way, unless some CPS worker in Lincolnshire or wherever is particularly bothered by this case, it is done and dusted as far as they are concerned, and one less headache on a Monday morning. Crime+conviction = job done.
The details don't matter.
TRT
says...
9:16pm Sat 20 Oct 12
buckler says...
3:59pm Fri 19 Oct 12