Fregate director jailed on child porn charges
Friday 21st January 2011, 2:30PM GMT.
Chris Sharp, accompanied by his advocate, Clare Tee, waves to friends on his way into yesterday’s Royal Court hearing. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 1079780)
ONE of the island’s leading hoteliers was jailed for four years yesterday for making indecent images of children on a computer.
La Fregate director Chris Sharp was found to have 502 still images and 35 videos – 10 in the most serious category – on his machine when police searched his home in September 2008.
Sharp, 44, smiled and waved to friends as he entered the Royal Court building yesterday, but he spent most of the two-hour hearing sitting with his eyes closed.
He maintained his innocence for most of the investigation, but changed his plea and admitted a total of seven counts at an unreported hearing at the end of November.
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Forget a custodial sentence for people like this, it certainly won’t rehabilitate them. People who are involved in any form of child abuse, (whether it’s the actual act of abuse, or condoning this abuse by downloading images of it), forfeit the right to be classed as a human being and should be dealt with as the animals that they are!!
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Quote “Sharp, 44, smiled and waved to friends” – What a complete *******
Prehaps in years to come he should meet these poor children
And 4 years, you would get more for a gram of pot!
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…… and David G, pray tell, how do you persoanlly treat animals?
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Perhaps the police were aware that the public uproar from this farcical sentance is the reason that they bought the new armoured cars.
Absolutely pathetic sentence.
Plenty of open sea round here, enough granite…
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He’s not local so hopefully any new Housing Laws will allow us to deport him at the end of his sentence.
I always have mixed views about people like this -ultimately they aren’t just evil criminals but they are mentally sick. Do they ever get cured of it? If he’s out in 2 or 3 years he’ll only be 47. How do you stop somebody like that re-offending if they are mentally sick? They don’t simply wake up one morning in their 40s and decide to do child porn – its in their psyche, so how do you get it out of their psyche?
As well as feeling physically sick at the abuse suffered by the children abused, I feel really sorry for his family who probably had absolutely no idea. How on earth do they cope with this?
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Sickening, but has anyone considered who was protecting the children of the island during the time from 2008 when the evidence was discovered, until now, when he was wandering around a free man…..crazy system !
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I’m wondering, did the Press, or anyone else get a picture of the friends that it was waving at, (and who were presumably waving back at it)? Perhaps they would be so kind and print a picture of them too, so we can be aware of the sort of people who openly and publically support a Pedophile?
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we can only hope that he gets put in the same cell as the knife wielding , headstomping teenagers convicted this week and that the canteen cutlery is of the best quality steel to remove his sex drive
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Who can’t feel sick to the stomach when reading something like this. As a mother of two small children I feel horror at the mere thought and when we sometimes question the lack of freedom parents now give to their children as opposed to the past decades it’s these very men who make those freedoms a thing of the past.
This man is the lowest of the low in both man and Gods eyes. I can’t put into words what I really feel should happen to this man but it would be very painful for him.
I agree with David this man will not be ‘cured’ for time in jail he will have the same urges when he comes out. Someone doesn’t just change from their orientation do they.
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I can get that because someone Fantasies about certain sex acts it doesn’t automatically mean they would commit them (eg people who have rape fantasies aren’t necessarily rapists)…but HOW can anyone look at those kind of images and NOT think about the victims?
I’m glad that these offences are being taken seriously. I just hope that as much time is being taken in catching those who Commit the acts as those who watch.
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Sickens me to wonder about the amount of opportunity he might have had as a hotelier.
Those with children, who have stayed there, & suspected something was not quite right should be asking questions.
Maybe suspicions have already been raised in the past. If it’s true he’s not local then why didn’t the judge recommend he be deported upon release?
With how things stand on this island it could easily be pedo’s paradise. How many wealthy individuals in open market housing have convictions of this nature?
Four years is nothing at all when one considers the bigger picture of how many children’s lives have been damaged so scumbags like him can get off at their expense.
He will have this halved I believe. Two years is an insult to all who have suffered.
There is CCTV cameras monitoring the interior & exterior of the court building. I hope the cops investigate these “friends” this piece of filth was waving to.
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‘Automatic Deportation ‘ at the end of his prison term, for such a crime, should have been part of this lenient sentence.
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There are no cases of someone getting more for a gram of pot – utter nonsense.
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Does anyone know his current possition with the fregate? Im considering a boycott!
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nonce
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DEOPORT HIM WHEN HE IS RELEASED, OR WILL HE WALK INTO A NICE COSY JOB,
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David
Never mind his family, what of the children and their family, I am afraid the liberal sentencing now employed in the western world does not prove to be anywhere near a robust enough punishment in this or any other type of crime to act as a real deterrent for these deviants/criminals.
In my view individuals who carry out these activities forfeit their human rights and should face stiffer custodial sentences. Don’t tell me these “people” are sick individuals and need help as apposed to punishment, Sorry I don’t agree, sick or not these criminals know what they are doing is wrong and if convicted they should serve a longer custodial sentence. In this case 4 years, try 14 with no early release.
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I think adam West had the best solution to this problem!
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I propose that anybody found guilty of this sort of crime should be sentenced as if they perpetrated the sexual assaults on the children themselves.
Too often we hear a ‘defence’ excuse being presented alluding to it being a ‘one-off’ or a ‘mistake’, a ‘lapse of judgement’ or, bizarrely, as the result of the individual going through some sort of ‘stress’ in their lives, which is clearly irrelevant to their appalling perversion.
Those who create and distribute these disgusting videos and images do so because there is a market to sell them to, which makes those who choose to view them equally as guilty of the horrific child abuse portrayed within.
There currently is no reliable way of rehabilitating these people. Whilst, yes, it is the result of a dysfunctional psychology, all paedophiles are fully aware of how society views their heinous crimes, yet many choose to continue indulging in their abhorrent fantasies and will do so every time they are released back in to society.
Sentences must be able to offer a sufficient deterrent or, at the very least, allow for decent society to have the power to keep these monsters of the streets for the rest of their lives.
It’s time we wake up to the fact that we cannot treat those who view this material any differently from those who produce it.
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Simon
I agree with you about a boycott of La Fregate.
Until I know that he no longer has any financial interest in the business, I won’t be visiting there again. The thought of him sitting in his cell earning profits from my custom would make me feel physically sick. Hopefully many other islanders will feel the same.
The remaining management team of La Fregate need to clarify the position. They will surely have known for a while that he was heading for prison and, let’s face it, he’s finished in Guernsey business for ever after this.
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I concur that these are awful crimes that should meet the stiffest penalty and that 4 years does seem light. Although compare that with a former headteacher here in Eastbourne this week. Downloading 400 pictures and videos, including girls under 7 being raped earned him a suspended sentence! That is of course ridiculous but at least Guernsey has gone further.
If I were in Guernsey, I would certainly support a boycott of the Fregate, but nothing vigilante please. I don’t know them but I am sure that the other directors and staff of the hotel, not to mention current guests are equally sickened by this.
Also, let’s keep the comments in balance. Such crime is just as likely to be happening in the local market house next door as it is in the open market property. Most child abuse will occur in a child’s own or extended family rather than by the wealthy non locals you have living there.
Also @ Mrs Meat. How can you imply that a paeodphile should think of the victims and yet someone who fantasises about rape shouldn’t? That seems a bit illogical to me. Both are serious and vicious crimes and surely you are not saying its OK to fantasise a rape?
Finally, let’s not forget that is not only men who perpetrate these crimes against children. Recent cases in the UK show that women are also involved in serious child abuse cases, sexual and otherwise.
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Echo the sentiments of DavidG re: publishing a picture of the sick individuals (friends) who this evil monster was waving at. How can anyone and I mean anyone show any kind of support for cretins like this? Maybe only fellow paedo’s? Four years is a joke, he will be out in 2. I feel sick to the stomach that I actually sat in the same room and had a meeting with this thing only a few months ago. Hope he gets all that’s coming to him inside. Forget any comments about showing Christian compassion, as it simply cannot exist for a crime like this. To me this is worse than certain murders, he should get life as that is the sentence that the abused children will get, thinking of perverts like him for the rest of thier lives. Also agree that La Fregate need to issue a statement that he no longer has any connection with the hotel whatsoever, otherwise it will be very damaging for them.
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This person was an employee at the Fregate and not an owner. Any boycott does not damage him but does damage the other hard working and innocent staff at the hotel
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I too wonder why he was still working at Le Fregate as surely they must have known about his impending trial and children would have been staying at the hotel. The hotel does need to clarify their position on that. But WHY did it take almost three years to bring this case to the courts when the police knew that he would be having contact with children during that time?
I read in todays GEP that even more cases are being looked into! Time for a sex offenders register and photo’s to name and shame these perverts!
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I believe that Sharp is a director of la fregate and a shareholder of the company that owns it.
If so, a percentage of every penny spent in the establishment will accrue to him in the form of dividends while he kicks his heels in the nick at our expense, full board and lodgings.
Less jail, more enforced saving – unless he is made to divest his shareholding.
Time for that boycott?
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I understand the arguments against the use of capital punishment, not least of which is that perpetrators would rather kill a victim than risk a witness. That said I still find it very difficult to rationlise away the unspeakable crimes that paedophiles commit against innocent children. To destroy someones youth quite so completely, and to go on destroying it as the cancerous memories eat into every part of their lives as they grow, must be close the purest of evil acts.
I’m not convinced that people like this are mentally ill. I wonder whether in order to rationalise their behaviour in the context of conventional morals, we label them mentally ill. Maybe some day they will be seen to have a genetic disorder, but I don’t know how mental illness can cause you to abuse, or take pleasure in the abuse of children.
Maybe we do need to imprison them rather than execute them. The only problem I have with that is letting them out again.
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The other members of the board of directors at La Fregate have really screwed up here and need to urgently explain why Sharp was not suspended from duty as soon as he was charged, given the serious nature of the charges. That’s what would have happened in any other company, and should have been a “given” in a tourist-related business, given the possibility of children staying at the hotel. Thankfully its a hotel which very rarely has children staying there, but that’s hardly the point.
Very serious questions need answering here if La Fregate’s reputation as a business is not to be totally destroyed.
At the same time, the board need to confirm whether Sharp has retained any direct or indirect interest in the business following his conviction.
Silence from the hotel simply cannot be an option, otherwise the innocent staff of the hotel will suffer as islanders withdraw their custom.
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absolutely disgusted!
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What do they mean by “making” videos on his computer. Was he involved in producing them as opposed to viewing them. If so this is a ludicrously low sentence.
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I dont think it unreasonable for his collegues to have been supportive, after all until this conviction he was innocent and may have protested how he was innocent.
However that time has gone and he has now been found guilty.
Until such time that the Fregate clarify the possition in relation to Sharp I have to say for me its no more Fregate. I hope others will take the same approach.
What say you the Fregate?
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@Peter@DavidG. There were no friends. Hotshot sicko’s in nifty suits have none. It’s an act. They do this simply to give the impression they have friends.
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These friends, Who Sharp waved to were not friends.They were close family members. Whom i do feel sorry for.His innocent family including his children , now have to deal with the media and the hard comments from islanders.
I certainly agree that people who DO commit these crimes, should be named and shamed and dealt with accordingly.
But have compassion for the innocent family, who did not dowload or share these images. Who must feel devastated, And now have to cope with the continued media and hatred.
I do think that this case case was complexed, and had been left to long.
As for boycotting the Fregate, i think everyone needs to find out the facts regarding Mr Sharps so called financial attachment.
And think for one moment how this affects the dedicated innocent staff who are having to deal with this.
I
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Does he have children? Hope he rots in jail.
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In reading this story I felt sick and now they are saying there are others and for him to walk into court waving who does he think he is. I understand it took a few years to come to court I just hope the police have been watching him in that time? I don’t think that paedos should have there faces put out there for others to see as we all know what Guernsey is like. I feel as long as the police know where they live etc then that should be it as Im sure in some cases paedos can change?
That’s what I think
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Putting a man in prison for Paedo cases is not the answer; this is a psychological disorder and needs the correct treatment, in the correct type of facility by people trained to deal with this sort i think, such as a psychiatrist.
When this man is released, he will still be the same, he will still be sexually attracted to children, and prison will not make this go away.
We do not imprison murders and rapists with bi polar or other mental problems, so this should be no different?
I suppose as long as the public gets its pound of flesh we will all be happy, but it won’t prevent anything.
Rehabilitation or punishment? I think only the ignorant or naive believe punishment is the only answer.
Im happy this man is away from the general public, but him and many others should be treated in the correct way.
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He is removed from Society he will no longer enjoy fine wine and food,he is in the company of lifes losers for the next four years.
La Fregate did not set out to employ and reward a freak and should not be held accountable, anymore than all who voted for Blair are accountable for Iraq and its legacy.
The Police have done their job in gaining a conviction and continue to unravel the “Group” Sharp was involved with.
When he comes out he should be deported to the mainland, placed on the Sex Offenders Register and monitered for the rest of his life to insure he does not continue with his pervertision, he will never hold a meaningful position in any Company and will never be acceptable in Society again.He decided on how to live his Life and its course…..end.
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Neal
Was he and is he not still a director at the Fregate?
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Sanguine
He’ll undergo the treatment you describe whilst in prison, unless he chooses not to of course, in which case he’ll spend longer inside.
Quite how you advocate non-custodial sentences for crimes such as these is beyond me. And I think you’ll find that rapists and murderers with bipolar disorder are imprisoned as a matter of course. Those with serious mental disorders may be kept in a secure hospital but one way or another they are not walking the streets. You maybe need to read up on these issues a bit more before making further comments.
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Sanguine
Your post confuses me, you say that imprisonment is not the answer in these cases, however in your final comment you say that you are happy that this man is away from the general public, you can’t have it both ways in my view.
If you take the loony left wing, bleeding heart liberal approach to these poor unfortunate mental cases I guess you would be happy to see these criminals living amongst the great unwashed, out on some sort of licence attending their therapy sessions in the vain hope of rehabilitation!
I do not agree with this view, perpetrators of these types of crimes, irrespective of their involvement in this sick trade, should at the very least have their personal freedom taken away from them, lets face it the children who suffer to give these paedophiles the pictures and films they look at and watch have lost an awful lot more.
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Sanguine
Sharp had to be ” Jailed” as Punishment for ALL of the Children, everywhere, hurt by Paedophile’s involvement in their lives, when Sharp is released he will not be a reformed Paedophile, he will be an Ex-Prisoner who was jailed for crimes against Children,if he never re-offends, then at the end of his life one could say he had reformed.
Simon
I in line with many of the Comments on this page
think the Fregate needs to openly explain the position now and for the future as Sharp was/is a Shareholder and Director who represents the Hotel.
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The Fregate responded on saturday that “they were devasted, he was well liked and respected”. They had the opportunity of issuing a statement which distanced themselves from his appalling behaviour. I understand he was initially arrested in 2008 in any other work place whilst an investigation such as this took place an individual would be suspended until the investigation was completed. I do not believe the hotel were oblivious to what was going on. The police would have seized all laptops, computers etc that Mr Sharp had access to, which would have included the work computer. I also have difficulty that I alongside many others have been receiving email newsletters from the hotel from chris sharps email address – sick making and unbelievably naive from his work colleagues. Mr Sharp no doubt new the outcome of his actions once he got to court he is not that thick, arrogant yes. His arrogance explains why he continued to act as Director of La Fregate and to represent the hoteliers of Guernsey – He did not resign until March this year. Why did no-one seek a resignation earlier, regardless of the outcome, this has put into question the judgement of the Chamber of Commerce who refused to respond, the other directors of the hotel and of course the other hoteliers. In his business, Mr Sharp and his staff are in the position of ensuring the safety and well being of those eating and staying at the hotel was he letching over young children taking photos of them, where would he have drawn the line. No one will know the answer to this as luckily he has been convicted. Feel sorry for his family by all means they are victims of his appalling behaviour. I urge La Fregate to issue an appropriate statement to reassure the general public and make their position clear.
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Its pretty obvious that treatment would require admission to a secure facility such as an asylum. Which would keep them away from the public AND help to rehabilitate.
Business bloke, im sure you know a prison is not the only way to remove someone from society?
As for criminals living amongst us, when did I advocate that? If you do however prefer the prison system fine, but he will be walking amongst us sooner than you think.
As for my leftist views of some namby lefty therapy session, nice stereotype, but completely wrong. Correct mental treatment is far different from chairs coffee and hugs like at your local AA meeting… For the record im more right wing than you know.
If someone is committed then they won’t be released until a certified level of sanity is reached, so consider this as being much more effective than prison if you consider it an insanity.
So I know all in this thread are carried away with moral indignation (but that’s ok, i know it’s scary to suggest something a bit radical about a child porn case – when it’s a cut and dry lock him up, cut em off, throw away the key yawn fest) but be assured with a mental institution he would have his freedom taken away, probably more so. But if punishment makes you feel better, sure go for it. I’m sure it will be just as effective as the death penalty is at stopping murder, or how amputation prevents thievery in Africa.
Exactly Neal, he will not be a reformed Paedophile, but surely that’s what you want don’t you? Or an ex con no one will employ with a nasty habit he needs to feed?
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Star.. ditto..
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Sanguine
Could you please explain why you think this is just a psychological disorder and not just accept that there are some very nasty people in this world which he is one of.
Even if he did have a disorder he would know how wrong it is and how it distroys lifes including his own families. So why dont people like this seek the help you suggest so they can stop?.
So he has a choice, seek help and save the children from perverts like himself or just carry out his sick acts.
Maybe he enjoyed what he was doing and didnt want to stop because he dosen`t give a damn about those kids and the damage he caused?
which is what i believe to be the case.
If what you suggest works and is proven to work then fine but i just dont buy into it.
I dont believe he is sick its just a case of what he does is sick.
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Am shocked at the lack of response by the Chamber of Commerce, Guernsey hoteliers and most particularly the directors of La Fregate to the sentencing of Chris Sharp . He may have put up an affable front but is undeniably a sick man . By remaining silent all these people will be seen to be condoning his behaviour or even worse to week to speak out ( sadly a symptom of our times ! ) We have a fragile economy and a struggling tourist industry, if this story reaches the national press it could do untold damage to our island .
We are asked to think of the innocent staff employed at the Fregate, surely that should have been of paramount importance to the directors and Chris Sharp should have been suspended immediately this came to light to protect them and the hotel’s reputation.
Come on Guernsey Press take this further and demand answers.
I do however offer my sympathy to his partner and the children in the family
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I refer you to Micheal Onfray’s Traite d’Atheologie, where he makes reference to this in great detail.
Have a read and see what you think, I can’t remember the pages numbers of hand it has been a while.
There is also a case of a man in the UK, who was aware of his tendancies towards children, to control himself, he downloaded pictures of 18 year women and photoshopped them to look like little girls. he was ashamed of himself, and wanted help, but no one understood this. he went to jail for three years, even though he technically did nothing wrong. its clear from cases such as this and others it is a mental discorder is some (not all cases).
Im sure you will agree correct treatment would enable understanding and help prevention – punishment is one thing, but prevention and undertanding is so much better
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Sanguine
In my opinion you have “hit it on the head” and put the position far better than I did, Sharp did need to be removed from Society, and is, now the Government have the opportunity to monitor and give the correct treatment needed to remove this threat to Children forever, Prison is not the end, its the beginning.
Its up to Sharp to prove he is sane, because what he did in his position of trust, was not.
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once again the gsy courts give out a pathetic sentence in relationship to crime.If he behaves in prison with the nice new tvs to watch and relax in the nice community area he will be released in about 16 months what a joke.Time and time again we see the court hand out pathetically low sentences in respect of the crime and then the accused get remission for good behavior.if sentenced for 4 years 4 years should be served.We regularly see the report of sentences being run concurrently if a person commits 2/3 offences and found guilty they should serve the grand total of sentences not the combined time for example late last year a woman was found guilty of stabbing 2 people and sentenced to 7 years on each charge to run together so with good behaviour out in 3/4 years her sentence had already been reduced by 1/3 for early guilty plea.
I think its about time we got to are local politicians to try to change this pathetic system of sentencing. We want to protect our children our way of life and our island we are guernsey not the uk or europe so lets set our laws and sentencing to suit our lives.
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Castration seems like a good option to me…………………?
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I cannot believe the public knew nothing about this!!! 2008 this all started. 4 years is not enough FACT!!! he should get life and they should send him to the worst prison in the world to have his sentance . I have two yound children and if i ever found out a sicko like this had even looked at my child the wrong way i would do life for murder!!! Those poor children and their families.
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@Eh
I am with you my friend , as my previous post indicates.
After all in some Arab countries if you are caught for theft your hands are amputated so why not do the same for offences of this nature, castration and removal of both hands will ensure that he can no longer search on the internet, a tattoo on his forehead should also be considered telling the whole world what he is
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The worst thing is that he will do his time away from the general prison population!! They have a seperate block which houses all the “sex offenders” So there is no chance of him getting into trouble or fights!
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Judging by the baying mob mentality of many commenting on this thread it’s just as well that he’ll be segregated from the general prison population. We’d probably have his murder on our hands if the majority of these postings are anything to go by.
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people who look at this filth are as evil as
someone who actually physically abuses a child.
They are scum and have no place in todays society and as for all the dogooders who want to spend more of the taxpayers money to treat them how would they feel if it was their child being abused.Castrate the perverts and lock them up for good forget psychiatric treatment they would fool the doctors just as they fooled the people who lived and worked with them spend the money on genuinely sick people not these vile despicable scumbags.
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Nick, your righteous anger is really really boring.
Honestly, think outside your Juedo-Christian upbringing. Your eye for an eye mentality is just as “vile” “sick” and “despicable”
Funnily enough those same Arab countries you can have your hands amputated in, it is legal to marry and make love to a girl as young as 8, so long as she is in puberty, so perhaps we should accept that rule too whilst we are at it, since you advocate barbaric principles!
Oh low and behold, that’s what you’re so morally outraged at in the first place……
Must, say, I don’t see corporal punishment working in Saudi Arabia anyway for that matter…
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This man clearly has psychological issues and needs to be treated for them in a humane way. He doesn’t need to be locked up with the other criminals unless he has committed a common crime. We need to study him and learn from him before deporting him. Then we can use the attained knowledge to try and stop it happening in the future.
The people who make this child pornography should be dealt with so that it isn’t provided anymore.
I always though that companies should create child porn with “Avatar like” computer graphics and this should be “prescribed” to the offenders to gradually ween them off the obvious chemical to receptor addiction they are suffering from. This would get rid of the poor children being violated and gradually fix the issue entirely, as far as posting a picture of the person being waved at… How backwoods are you people? If a very dear friend or family member was accused of something like this, Would you really just turn your backs on them? If so mankind really is narrow minded and primitive. How heartless of you! Go and lynch your best friend and closest family for not being as perfect as you clearly are. It is an illness, just like alcohol, these people are addicted to the chemical in their brains that is released when exposed to child porn.
Open your eyes and minds people, you are simply a result of what you have been taught, not necessarily what is real!
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Bunch of muppets,get a grip on reality and how to help people
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AK – excellent post, I hope more people come to this realisation!
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AK
What a load of rubbish, he is of age to know the difference between right and wrong, and although he may have addiction to children, he has the power to make decisions and knows the rules and where to draw the line, also the consequences upon being found out..
Your comment ” You are simply a result of what you have been taught, not necessary what is real ”
What is that all about, are your suggesting his problems are as a result of his education.
I really have no sympathy for him, but I do for the children, some of whom will be very young, and in some cases taken from their families against their will, or bought and kept locked away for the purposes of making these videos/pictures.
Some just disappear never to be seen again.
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AK. Yes I would turn my back on on a partner, family member, very dear friend or anyone else for that matter.
Why do you think that this is not a crime?
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Museek
I completely agree.
AK yours are the ramblings of a buffoon.
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AK – “He doesn’t need to be locked up with the other criminals unless he has committed a common crime.”
Are you serious? So how many others need to commit these crimes before it becomes a “common crime”? What about someone who is up for rape or indecent assault? Should they not be locked up as well?
His actions and lets not forget he was found guilty of sharing this material feed the demand for these images which in turn increases the amount of material being produced.
He quite clearly has problems, anyone turned on by this subject matter must have. But as a parent and as an adult he is aware of the consequences of his actions and deserves everything he gets.
As for your idea about creating virtual child porn I dont think I have ever heard anything so ridiculous. Not in the least whoever creates such a program would be breaking the law and liable to prosecution under the same laws that this individual was prosecuted under.
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AK
What did these perverts with their medical problem do before the internet was there to fuel their urge to look at kids? did they suffer in silence the poor things? do they get withdrawel symptoms when they cant get their fix?.
I to would ignore any member of my family if they were convicted of such a crime.
How do you know its a disorder?
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- muzeek
As far as your fairly weak argument of him knowing the difference between right and wrong goes… I’m sure most people understand how strong an addiction can be to some people.
You can’t blame a heroin addict for continuing to take heroin because he “knows it’s wrong” so why should you blame somebody who is addicted to a chemical release so strong it urges him to download and watch child porn.
I feel that if we found a way to recreate this reaction happening in the brains of these unfortunate and ill people (via synthetic material) then we could find a way to cure it. Whether that be through removing the protein from the chemical release site within the brain or synthesizing a chemical to counteract and limit this release before it even happens.
I am not endorsing watching child porn by any means because I am fortunate enough to not feel the impulse to do so.
However others do, and I feel they need to be treated and not just incarcerated.
@ Casey -
You seem to have no compassion, similar to that of a Nazi in WW2 Germany, and quite frankly I am glad you aren’t a family member of mine
@business bloke,
I will reply with the same level of relevance you have. Yes, it is cold at this time of year!
@M
Yes I am serious… deadly serious!
Mankind needs to change the way it deals with it’s criminals. It needs a radical restructure of society starting with the Criminal Justice System. Looking at the re-offending rates of most criminals it is a proven failure and the people as a whole clearly aren’t strong enough or confident enough at this time to do anything about it.
As for him “sharing” the pornographic material… as somebody who probably knows more about IT than you do. I can tell you how the illegal underground sharing systems for material such as this works.
The illegal data can’t be stored on a centralised server for obvious reasons so to abbreviate how it works the following happens.
The creator or provider of the illegal data uploads his material to anybody trying to download it through the file sharing software.
Other people download the material and whilst doing so upload a percentage of their total download amount to another user seeking the material. After a while so many people have the file that they each (usually without knowing about it) upload small segments of the material to another person searching for it. This is the very basics as to how online file sharing works. It is a pyramid scheme of sorts… only in a digital form.
It is the source that needs to be destroyed, in a similar way that one would stop the circulation of a drug. Destroy the source and fix the damage that has been done afterwards in a relevant and scientific manner.
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PlEASE LIVE YOUR LIVES AND ENJOY… …… WE ARE IN A BETTER POSTION THAN MR SHARP CAN EVER BE IN – EVER AGAIN… PERIOD!
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@AK
A Heroin addict choosing to re-dose is a victimless crime. His compulsion to abuse Heroin does not harm anybody other than, possibly, himself. If, however, his compulsion to use heroin finds him robbing someone to pay for his fix then his crime should be treated the same as if it were committed by someone who wasn’t a junkie, because it is a crime with a victim. Whatever the junkie’s compulsions are, they are not to be excused simply because he could not intellectualise himself around his cravings.
There are drug addicts who would steal to fund their habit and there are drug addicts who would not.
Paedophilia is never a victimless crime and, if anything, is a life-sentence of psychological torment and personality disorders for the young victim, yet we continue to jail the offenders for a small number of years and then release them back into the population. They’ve already demonstrated that they are unable to control their urges, there is no effective treatment currently available, other than removing their sex-drive through castration, yet we are supposed to be understanding and supportive of them?
Quite frankly, no. In all likelihood there are dysfunctional adults who may harbour secret paedophile urges, but who do not allow themselves to give in to their perversion because they know it is monstrous and wrong. Those who have demonstrated that they are unable to control themselves will always be on the lookout for an opportunity to ‘indulge’ their sick fantasies. We simply cannot continue to treat these people as ‘common’ criminals, they are seriously disturbed people who will remain a threat to children for the rest of their lives.
As I have said before, treat those who are found in possession of child-pornography as if they have committed the offence portrayed in their ‘collection’ and insist on permanent removal from the populace with the only option for eventual release being by way of agreeing to castration.
It’s the only way.
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- bcb
Disorder- lack of order or regular arrangement
I highlight “regular arrangement” as it is only a disorder in our perspective as 99% of humankind isn’t aroused by children (thankfully enough). So we need to bring people like Mr. Sharp up to speed.
Just remember we evolved from a much lower intellect where rape and murder were just part of everyday existence. Now we are lucky to be self conscious and aware. We have created a level of acceptable behavior to which most adhere. We have utilized science to alter our own bodies and minds and can successfully combat major diseases.
We need to look at this scientifically, and this disorder of the arrangement of the mind can be cured. It all depends on how you look at it really.
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AK
From your comments, you seem to be defending and making excuses for Sharps actions.
What I find disturbing is that nowhere in your comments do you show any thoughts or feelings about the children who are used in the videos/photos whose lives will have been ruined.
These children suffer untold pain both physically and mentally, and as I said in my previous note, some disappear never to be seen again so we can only guess what happens to them.
Finally, Sharp knowing he had these addictions could have spoken to his Doctor in confidence, who would have arranged treatment with the appropriate authorities. There is no excuse.
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AK – I have compassion. Compassion for the poor innocent children whose lives will never ever be the same again thanks to these sick, twisted perverts.
Castration is the answer. Not medical castration. A blunt instrument would still not give them anywhere near as much trauma as the children who have been tortured and abused in the name of so-called pleasure.
You haven’t answered my question. Why do you think that child pornography is not a crime?
Call me a Nazi if it makes you feel better. Sticks and stones…….
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-Bill Yeager
Interesting debate sir!
I am not one of those people who expects everybody to agree with my point of view, what a tiresome world this would be if that were the case.
I agree with various aspects of what you are saying, only I feel these people should be treated more effectively.
As you quite rightly mentioned castration (preferably chemical castration) seems to be the only viable scientific answer at present. However adding two, four or six years of incarceration to this isn’t (in my opinion) going to make the slightest bit of difference. It will only effect cost to the public. Which I feel is large enough at present.
As far as treating the offence as the one(s) portrayed in their collection(s). I disagree with this point. As I feel the creator of the material should have a great deal more to answer for.
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@ Muzeek, I am not Mr. Sharp and so I feel no need whatsoever to prove my compassion for these individuals. You are talking as though he has created these videos and images himself. You are clearly trying to use politician like tactics to sway me and others in to agreeing with your point of view.
It is hard to say unless you are in that situation, It would be a difficult thing to go to your local clinic and ask for some treatment to stop the urge to download child porn. Our society isn’t tolerant enough to handle such a situation without such a strong biasness.
@Casey
I never said downloading child porn is not a crime, you have misunderstood my point entirely.
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AK – “He doesn’t need to be locked up with the other criminals unless he has committed a common crime.”
I clearly don’t understand.
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couldnt agree with you more Casey and Muzeek. A J shows no compassion for the children and seems to almost defend the crime of Sharp and other paedos
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@ Casey
Exactly… a COMMON crime, still a crime none the less! It just isn’t an everyday crime one would read about in the local paper such as not paying a ticket or stealing a loaf of bread from the market.
Sorry about the Nazi comment by the way, We clearly are just different people.
@ nick
I wouldn’t say i’m defending him. I’m just not following everyone else’s lead and suggesting we drown him in the ocean or something ghastly like that.
Society is based upon it’s compassion for others. I am not saying not too have compassion for the victims of this case as they deserve a better life away from abuse, everybody deserves the right to live their lives without any abuse and everybody should have access to the basic freedoms that us islanders take for granted. I am saying we should have compassion for the perpetrator of this crime and analyse what lead him to do such things. Once we understand this we can gradually remove the problem from our society in a sensible and efficient manner. Instead of just violently removing his genitals and kicking him off the island as i’m sure a great deal of people would like to do. One can see why, especially if they have been abused themselves throughout life.
I clearly have a different point of view to yourselves on this one and none of us are necessarily right as it is a matter of opinion. If we discussed politics further I am sure that some people on this forum would actually want to publicly lynch me due to my somewhat “different” ideas. It is interesting to see other peoples opinions though.
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I fully appreciate that this is a very sensitive topic for everyone and I have until now avoided raising my own comments, however, it seems to me that there are also other innocent people being slightly victimised unfairly in this on going debate. I did know Mr Sharp very well and can assure you that I certainly had no idea that this case was being brought to court until like you I read about it in the paper, hense please do not accuse those closest to him, friends, staff, fellow collegues, family etc of knowing about this as it is not true. The police clearly choose to keep these cases quiet for thier own reasons whether that is right or wrong! Mr Sharp has received the sentence given to him which is clearly a bone of contention with a lot of people, however, his family are also serving a sentence too. Of course the worst victims are the children of these acts themselves but making unfair accusations about family and friends is victimisation too when actually they are the ones who are going to find this the hardest to deal with. We can all carry on with our everyday lifes but they cant!! Boycotting a business and almost behaving like a vigilante group is not the answer and is only going to make other innocent people suffer who rely on their place of work to support thier families. I am as shocked and appalled as the next person but maybe its time to let them try and move forward from this and seeing some of these unfair comments will certainly not help them do that. Stick to the facts instead of making assumptions. The perpetrator is behind bars so that is a start, now the resource needs to be spent on stopping the people who actually perform these acts with innocent children to create the videos and photos in the first instance which will hopefully stamp out the ability for others to view, in reality, this will never fully happen but one can hope!
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AK
I would still like you to explain if you can, that given they are fully aware of the trauma they inflict on these children to the point where i bet some commit suicide why cant they just not look at it? I mean an urge to do something that causes such devastation and still do it anyway must be right off the scale of “i cant help it”.
Again what happens to them if they dont view this stuff? what are their symptoms?.
I just think they got a perversion that i`m sure they could control with a bit of effort, but they dont because they dont really care about thier victims?.
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@ Anon….. Exactly…
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Anon: very well said!!!
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anon
Im unwilling to spend my money where it may contribute to Sharps income.
The Fregate for their part could have clarified the possition between Sharp and themselves sooner but chose instead to issue a statement saying how popular he is.
For your part, Im just not getting your “voice of reason” approach.
If no one new about this case then who was it waving him off from court?
I accept you post seems to have some support, however i find it has an arrogant patronising undertone with a hollow echo.
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Nothing can be said to defend this activity, however as a point of reflection, 40 years ago, there is a 99.99999% chance this guy was a victim of child sex abuse.
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Anon
Just one point I’d like to make concerning your excellent post, and that is that the viewers of this material create the demand for it in the first place. In my eyes they are as guilty as the people who actually make it.
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On the 21st Jan, Sharp gets a 4 year prison sentance, on the 25th the News reports it will be reduced to 16 months…..he has been in prison for less than a week and he gets a reduced sentance…how does that happen?
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Simon,
We are all entitled to our own opinions and thats absolutly fine, however, had I been passing the court that day and seen Mr Sharp I would have had no idea why he was there and would quite possibly have thought it was a driving conviction or such like and would have innocently waved.
As for the Fregate, again that is your choice to not go, I agree the very small statement that was printed by the Press could easily be misconstrued, however, the fact is that to these people and me alike he was well liked and respected before this incident and the point I think they were trying to make is that because of this it came as even more of a shock to them.
Please do not think I am in any way condoning any of the incidents that are happening locally at the moment as I am not in any way shape or form, I am simply trying to show the other repercussions that come from this to other innocent people
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Its nice to see some sensible discussion rather than the usual vitriol.
Combining what Ak and Peter have stated, if most child abusers were abused themselves, then it makes even more sense to have a proper mechanism for treatment rather than punishment.
Its common sense, something people like nick clearly don’t have!
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Peter
Be careful that you are not being taken in by the defence Advocate’s weasel words
It seems that every miscreant in the dock these days has had an unhappy childhood/has just split up with his girlfriend/had his drink spiked/is still recovering from a family bereavement/was bullied at school or whatever excuse the Advocate selects from the ‘Compendium of well worn get out of jail free cards’each Advocate keeps in his desk drawer
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The copine and sap scale
The Copine Scale is a rating system used in the United Kingdom to categorise the severity of indecent images of children.
The original copine scale – In the late 1990s, the COPINE project (“Combating Paedophile Information Networks in Europe”) at the University of Cork, in cooperation with the Paedophile Unit of the London Metropolitan Police, developed a typology to categorize child abuse images for use in both research and law enforcement.The ten-level typology was based on analysis of images available on websites and internet newsgroups. Other researchers have adopted similar ten-level scales.
http://www.chris-uk.org/its-not-child-porn/the-copine-scale
Children Have Rights In Society C.H.R.I.S web site gives a full insight into the situation.
When I started to read it, I just felt sad and helpless…we are all, thankfully, far removed from Kids who have been hurt and let down, maybe thats why it makes us angry, because we cannot stop it happening, we only hear about it when it HAS happened, then its to late.
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@ Adam West. Its not the Police who decide how long someone gets inside. They do all the leg work and paper work then its passed on to the Law Officers who then decide what to do and then the Magistrate. I get annoyed when people blame the Police for the sentences when unfortunately they dont have a say.
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This is evidently a very sensitive topic and is showing a diverse range of opinions which we are all entitled to have. One thing, however, that I am slightly amazed at is that the “Hotelier convicted” headline is now at 87 comments, the “may only do 16 months” headline has 35 comments and yet the “Paedophile who made schoolgirl victim give evidence is put away” has only recieved 29 comments and he is a person who has actually touched a child and this being his second offence of the same nature!!! Dont get me wrong, the pornography is abhorrent but the points raised on needing more than just prison to prevent re-offending are totally valid. We need to understand why people feel the need to do this which may help to reduce future crimes of this nature. I fully support adequate punishment of any crime but if we dont make these people explore why they do then it will happen again and again and again as has already been the case
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Phil, i completely agree with you and to my mind the creation, selling, sharing of images in order to profit from child abuse should be dealt a worse sentence than the actual abuse itself… let me explain…. making child abuse into a business organises criminals, increases the number of children abused and also the level of that abuse. The “business” of child abuse is growing and now there are organised crime rings which target and abuse children not just for sick personal compulsion but also for money. Even some persons with no compulsions at all will abuse when lured with enough money and also the greater level of abuse the more the incentive… which is why I believe that being in the “business” of child abuse is a much greater crime than an act in private driven by personal sexual gratification.
Making it into a psychological disorder makes a judge sympathetic (an abuser is highly skilled in the art of role play and acting) but why go on to share or sell those images? Its to make money… just like a hitman kills to make money… they abuse to make money and the consequences they face should be just as severe.
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DavidG ie MrG , he is a troll, forget his remarks, real name should be Mr GTF
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