Law enforcement software utilised to surveil convicted sex offenders resulted in the revelation that a Wouldham PAEDOPHILE, Richard Faulkner, residing near Snodland was downloading thousands of illicit photos of minors.
Richard Faulkner was under a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) that restricted him from utilising any device capable of internet connection unless it was equipped with a web monitoring program.
The SHPO was issued by the courts in January 2024, subsequent to prior convictions associated with Richard Faulkner and the possession of indecent photos.
Several months later, on 26 August, an alert was sent on a computer registered by Richard Faulkner with Kent Police. This indicated he had once more been downloading illicit content.
He was apprehended days later, and searches were conducted at his residence near High Street, Wouldham.
The computer was confiscated, along with many other gadgets that had not been previously accessible to the police for examination, fulfilling another criterion of the SHPO.
In a preliminary police interview, Richard Faulkner refuted any misconduct, asserting that he no longer possessed any sexual attraction to minors. He asserted that he possessed no awareness of the presence of unlawful photos on his computer.
His falsehoods were revealed during the subsequent forensic examination of the device, in conjunction with another hard disc.
Hundreds of thousands of illicit photos were identified. These comprised over 160 photographs and videos in the most severe category, depicting children enduring horrific torture.
Richard Faulkner, 70, entered a guilty plea at Maidstone Crown Court to several charges concerning the creation of indecent pictures of minors and for violating the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
Richard Faulkner also acknowledged his failure to adhere to sex offender notification obligations by not registering several bank and credit cards with law enforcement.
On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Richard Faulkner received a sentence of three years’ imprisonment. This involved the enforcement of a previously suspended sentence.
Sergeant Steph Kirkin said:
‘Richard Faulkner had been the subject of strict measures designed to reduce the risk of him reoffending.’
He attempted to manipulate the monitoring software placed on his computer, in attempts to disguise the fact he was frequently seeking access to disturbing and harmful images, many of which include the horrific abuse of children.
‘Sexual harm prevention orders are passed by the courts to help protect children and as this case shows, we will do everything we can to ensure those who ignore them face the consequences of their actions.’
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