Psychotherapist's Child Porn Shame

A psychotherapist, who works with the disabled and mental health charities, has received a suspended prison sentence
for downloading thousands of sick internet child pornography images.

Martin Hempel, 56, has a diploma in Integrative Therapeutic Counselling and worked with Merton Mind, running the Disabled People's Counselling Project.

He specialises in help with anxiety, anger, addiction, depression and bereavement and loss.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Hempel, of York Road, Battersea lied to police who raided his home, denying he ever looked at child pornography.

He eventually pleaded guilty to four sample counts of possessing Category A, B and C images on or before December 23, 2013.

They include two 12 year-old boys having sex; sexual activity involving a 13 year-old girl and another girl posing in a sexually provocative manner.

He downloaded a further 8 Category A images - the most serious - 23 at Category B and 3,104 at Category C. 

When he first appeared in court the prosecution said the images were on a Samsung Notebook; a Corsair Tower; a Freecomm Drive and elsewhere.

Judge Judith Coello told the first-time offender: "You engaged in deeply damaging behaviour. This kind of activity encourages the most deplorable abuse of young children, ruins their lives and exposes them to sexual activity.

"You are aiding and abetting these disreputable organisations that produce these depraved images to make money.

"You entered this vicious cycle of making and distributing abuse.

"I accept your difficulties in life, your remorse and stress in life and caring for your partner."

Referring to the probation report the judge added: "They asses you at low-risk of repeat offending."

Hempel was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete a 12-month supervision order, which includes attending an Internet Sexual Offending Programme.

He was made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

Hempel was also ordered to pay £200 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Mr. Stephen Apted told the court police executed a search warrant at Hempel's home. "He was asked if there were any indecent images there and he said there weren't."

He denied ever viewing child porn, but police seized his computer equipment and found the sick material.

His lawyer Miss Olive Lycourgou said: "This offence is very much  out of character for Mr. Hempel.

"One can see clearly that Mr. Hempel is someone who has shown a great deal of remorse and insight into the offences.

"When he committed these offences he went for help to resolve these problems.

"Mr. Hempel had reached the darkest point of his life."

The court was told the defendant had a difficult upbringing, with his cruel father pulling down his pyjamas and punishing him.

"He comes from a middle-class, well-off family. His father beat him him with a leather belt and humiliated him in the most abusive way up until the age of thirteen years-old.  

"These are problems that have never gone away. He has suffered alcoholism and took medication for panic attacks.

"This is someone truly sorry for what he has done. He comes here with his heart and hands open, saying he's made a huge mistake."