Ex mental health worker charged in massive child sex case

From the Belfast Telegraph

This is the former Ulster charity worker accused of storing more than 23,000 images of child sex abuse on his computer.

Londonderry man John Llewelyn James (39) is now at the centre of one of the biggest alleged cases of child pornography ever uncovered in Northern Ireland.

The 39-year-old, from Garvagh Road in the city, was allegedly found to be in possession of 23,642 indecent images of children. Some of the material was classed as level five - the most serious level.

A court has refused him bail after police said he admitted having a " strong sexual interest in children".

James was a part-time worker with the North West Forum for people with disabilities when indecent images were allegedly found on his work computer in March 2006.

Police were informed and seized the computer along with his laptop.

He had previously worked with a mental health charity which trained GPs and emergency staff in Derry on how to deal with mentally ill patients.

At a recent bail hearing in the High Court the judge was told that James admitted he had accessed the images via the internet at work and at home.

He also admitted to having a sexual interest in children aged six to 14 and police said they feared he posed a significant risk to children.

High Court Judge Mr Justice Gillen refused bail saying that the protection of vulnerable children was one of the highest priorities invested in the courts.

When James first appeared in court charged with making and possessing indecent images of children reporting restrictions were enforced to prevent him from being named over fears for his safety. However, the restrictions were lifted in the High Court last week.

During his first court appearance, his defence solicitor Charles Kane said that James was willing to undergo therapy.

He raised concerns that his client might self-harm and added that there was no risk of James reoffending if he had no access to the internet.

Charging him with the offences at Londonderry Magistrate's Court in April, resident magistrate Mr Barney McElholm described child pornography as "a cancer" in society and said there does not appear to be "any way to successfully treat people with paedophile tendencies".

He added: "There would not be the amounts of money to be made by criminal elements if it was not for people willing to download, view and pay for [child pornography]. This cancer in our society has to be tackled at every level."