Director admits 15 child sex charges

10:56am Saturday 6th September 2008

A COMPANY director who admitted 15 child sex charges has been remanded in custody after a judge at Swindon Crown Court requested a psychological report be prepared on him.

Patrick Ian Burton, 57, formerly of Wellhead Lane in Westbury, and now of Christchurch Street East in Frome, pleaded guilty to 15 offences at Chippenham Magistrates' Court on July 21 and appeared at Swindon Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday.

Burton, who is a company director at advertisement monitoring firm Media Monitoring Group in Westbury, admitted two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. He also admitted one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted six charges of making indecent photographs of a child, five counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child and one count of possessing an indecent photograph of a child.

Swindon Crown Court heard how 89 per cent of the 166 images found on Burton's home and business computers featured children under the age of 13.

Of these images 35 per cent were level four or five - the highest level of seriousness.

The pictures included those of babies aged six months and went up to children of nine years old.

A further 181 movies were found on Burton's computer, 30 of which included children under the age of 13.

Prosecutor Colin Meeke told the court how a police officer working on the case described the photos as the most depraved and distressing he had ever seen in his 12 years with the force.

Mr Meeke also described how Burton had engaged in conversations with two girls, aged 13 and 14, over the internet.

The first girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, accepted that she had live images of Burton and he had live images of her.

They had engaged in conversations via their web cameras.

Burton sent £150 to the girl so she could buy a mobile phone to contact him. He also paid for top-up cards for both girls.

Burton described the conversations to police as pure fantasy and devoid of all reality. He said he never intended to meet the girls in person.

However, Burton did admit to exchanging photos and movies with at least 18 other people across the internet. A total of 2,294 child sex photos and movies were distributed by Burton between February 2003 and July 2007.

After listening to the prosecution's evidence Judge Douglas Field told the court: "The level five photographs are absolutely appalling.

"My preliminary view is that Mr Burton is dangerous and should be considered for imprisonment for his protection.

"It seems to me that a psychological report is required."

Burton has been remanded in custody until October 15 when he is due to appear at Swindon Crown Court for sentencing.

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