Greenwich Observatory’s Public Astronomer, who wrote a book on the science behind tv’s Dr. Who, today admitted downloading 407 sick sexual images of boys.
Dr. Marek Kukula, 49, who has also worked for NASA and has a PhD in radio astronomy, appeared at Inner London Crown Court.
Police raided his £780,000 flat in Millennium Square, Tower Bridge, seizing 18 devices and finding the disgusting movie clips and still images on an old laptop and two USB sticks.
Dr. Kukula is the observatory’s official spokesman on astronomy and space science, having held senior research positions at UK universities and at NASA’s Space Telescope Science Institute.
He pleaded guilty to making 34 Category A indecent images of a child; 107 Category B and 266 Category C indecent images on or before October 5, last year.
“There will have to be a pre-sentence report,” announced Judge Nigel Seed QC.
Kukula’s lawyer told the court police seized an old silver laptop computer, on which the astronomer had downloaded the images nine years ago.
All the files had been subsequently deleted.
Kukula was bailed until July 24 and the judge told him: “You have pleaded guilty to these matters.
“These are serious matters and all sentencing options are open.
“You are of good character, but that’s no guarantee you won’t receive a sentence of imprisonment.”
At the Royal Observatory Greenwich he oversees science content and exhibitions and public programmes and is a spokesperson for the landmark institution.
He is also the author of ‘The Intimate Universe’ and while a project manager and researcher in residence at the University of Edinburgh he managed a national scheme to train young researchers and match them with secondary schools.
He also has a degree in Physics with Astrophysics.
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