John Temple, a 54-year-old former barrister and police officer from Satley Plough in County Durham, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for possessing and distributing indecent images of children. This conviction represents his second offence of this nature, following a prior imprisonment in 2005. Temple, who once had a distinguished career in the Navy, North Yorkshire Police, and Northumbria Police, as well as at the Bar, saw his professional life unravel due to his illegal activities.
The case came to light during a police raid on Temple's home on 19 April 2013, where officers discovered more than 1,000 indecent images of children on a computer he had owned for just one month. A third of these images were classified as illegal, with content depicting young children engaged in sexual activity with other children, adults, and even animals. Additional images were found in Temple's pockets and on his bedside table, indicating a persistent and unhealthy interest in such material, as noted by the prosecution.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Clement Goldstone QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, described Temple as a 'sick man' with a 'dark side' and a 'perverted interest in pornography'. The judge highlighted Temple's intelligence and past service to his country but condemned his actions, stating, 'You have a perverted interest in pornography, particularly images of young children engaging in sexual activity with other children, adults and on occasions animals. You are what may be described as a sick man but there is no name for the illness which causes you to download and store such filth.' Damien Nolan, prosecuting, detailed the findings from the raid, while Ian Harris, in mitigation, argued that Temple had lost everything, including three professional careers, due to his gambling, alcohol problems, and these offences.
Temple pleaded guilty to 19 pornography offences, some in the more serious categories. In addition to the 16-month custodial sentence, a lifetime Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed, restricting his internet use and prohibiting him from working with children. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. This sentencing follows his 2005 conviction, where he received eight months in jail for downloading over 3,700 indecent images and distributing some as part of a larger operation targeting a 1,300-strong paedophile ring. Temple's earlier retirement from the police in 1992 was due to serious head injuries sustained during an assault by suspected car thieves in North Tyneside.
The case was heard at Liverpool Crown Court, with reporting by Mark Tallentire for The Northern Echo. Temple's actions have left a lasting impact on his family, including his four children, and serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of child sexual exploitation offences.