Terence Thatcher, a paedophile from Arlesey, has been incarcerated for possessing and distributing obscene photos of children.
Terence Thatcher, a 56-year-old registered sex offender from Bury Mead, was apprehended in February following a warrant executed by Bedfordshire Police at his residence.
Authorities confiscated a mobile device that included over 1,100 indecent photos of minors, in addition to two illicit and five highly pornographic images.
Evidence indicated that Terence Thatcher had disseminated these photographs to other individuals through chat streams.
Part of Terence Thatcher’s sexual harm prevention order when he was released from prison in 2019 was that he needed to notify his offender manager that he had a new phone, which he had not done.
On investigation, the phone was also logged into various social media accounts that he had not sought permission to use, resulting in a further breach of the conditions of his order.
Investigation Officer Emma Shipton from Bedfordshire Police’s Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “Viewing, possessing and distributing indecent images of children is by no means a victimless crime.
“It causes and propagates real harm to the children concerned, as they are abused and exploited in such a vile and appalling way, and people like Terence Thatcher share this disgusting abuse online for other individuals to view.”
Terence Thatcher was sentenced on Friday, May 19 to a total of two years and eight months in prison, with an additional three years on licence, after pleading guilty to making, distributing and possessing indent images of children, possessing prohibited and pornographic images and for breaching his sexual harm prevention order.
Terence Thatcher has also been handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
If you are worried about the safety of a child online or have concerns that someone you know may be committing sexual offences against children or making or distributing explicit materials of children online, report it to police via www.beds.police.uk/ro/report
You can also find more advice and guidance at https://beds.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/caa/child-abuse/online-child-abuse.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 111 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.