The owner of the independent Lincolnshire Gazette has been jailed
for three-and-a-half years after amassing 70,000 child porn pictures
from the internet.
Kevin Skaith admitted 20 counts of making
indecent photos of children and four of possessing indecent images
between October 1999 and March 2004.
His newspaper, which was set
up with an investment of about £100,000 by his family, now faces
closure and the loss of its only full-time member of staff.
Ordering
Skaith to register as a sex offender for life, Judge Michael Heath told
Lincoln Crown Court: “These offences are so serious that you have to go
to prison for them. If there were not perverted people like you, those
wicked persons who make these shocking and distressing images would
have no market for them.”
Kate Tompkins, prosecuting, said Skaith had downloaded porn almost on a daily basis – even after his arrest in September 2002.
Michael
Cramner-Brown, defending, said: “His main thrill is doing something he
shouldn’t be doing. His core problem is his inability to lead a normal
life.”
The court heard Skaith struggled to “interact” with other adults.
Cramner-Brown
added: “He is in many ways a voyeur. He knows he has a problem and is
going to need help to change his way of thinking.”
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
