Rotherham Magistrate Had Frog And Gerbil Porn On His Laptop
MICHAEL Hall, 46, a school governor at three schools – St Thomas CofE Primary in Kilnhurst, Swinton Fitzwilliam Primary School and Swinton Community School in Mexborough – a member of the Rotherham Council’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel, and a magistrate since 2007, downloaded a photo of woman having sex with a frog and a gerbil.
He had other photos on the laptop. Of the 230 photos and 150 videos on his machine, police found images of woman having sex with horses, a donkey, dogs, a gerbil, a frog and a live snake.
Hall, of Swinton, Rotherham, South Yorks, operated an account on a file-sharing website. It is believed police acted on a tip-off.
At Leeds Magistrates’ Court, Hall admits 21 specimen charges of possessing hard-core pornography. He is ordered to pay £85 costs. He is sentenced to a three-year community order and to spend 144 days on a programme for sex offenders.
Says Sally Sharp, head of West Yorkshire Crown Prosecution Service rape and serious sexual offences unit:
“This case is particularly repugnant involving multiple charges of possessing extreme pornographic images. The fact that the defendant was a magistrate and in a position of trust is additionally an aggravating feature. The conviction sends out a clear message that no-one is above the law.”
Hall has already resigned from all his posts.
The frog and gerbil have yet to be found…
Posted: 2nd, March 2011 | In: Key Posts, Strange But True Comments (15) | TrackBack | Permalink
