Child porn judge ‘proves no one is above the law’

POLICE and charities in Britain have pledged “no one is above the law”, following the sentencing yesterday of a former judge who admitted a string of child pornography offences.

Disgraced David Selwood had previously pleaded guilty to 12 counts of making and one count of possessing indecent photographs of children in March and April this year.

Yesterday the bespectacled 70-year-old appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court in London and was told by Senior District Judge Timothy Workman he would be given a 12-month Community Rehabilitation Order.

He was put on the sex offenders’ register for five years after he admitted the charges last month, and orders were made yesterday for the forfeiture of the computers and photographs and for him to pay £55 (€83) costs.

He was told a condition to attend a sex offenders’ programme would not be added as it was believed the necessary guidance could best be provided through the probation service.

The judge was arrested in April following intelligence from the US. He was charged after police found 75 images of naked and semi-naked boys aged between eight and 14 on his laptop computer.

West Midlands Police were asked to investigate the allegations because some Hampshire officers had worked with him before.

Detective Superintendent Jon Hesketh, who led the investigation, said Selwood had “disgraced” his position, and added: “No-one is above the law, regardless of their role or position in life.

“ I hope this case sends a clear message to the public that the police will pursue and bring before the courts anyone who downloads images of child abuse.”

A spokeswoman for the NSPCC said: “Behind these indecent images are real children who will have suffered immense trauma.

“Receiving or downloading abusive images of children perpetuates its production and reinforces the cycle of exploitation.”

Selwood was appointed a circuit judge in 1992 and was made resident judge at Portsmouth Crown Court in 1996, but stepped down on June 2 this year.

He insisted he had accessed the websites out of “curiosity” to see how easily they could be accessed.

Earlier this year, Selwood, from Winchester, Hampshire, cleared a world authority on child abuse, who pleaded guilty to downloading child pornography, of having any illegal intent behind his actions.

He called Christopher Bagley “naive” for accessing indecent images without seeking legal advice or consulting colleagues.