Samantha Franklin

Samantha Franklin, a 34-year-old woman from Ashton Keynes in Wiltshire, was sentenced at Swindon Magistrates' Court for making hundreds of indecent images of children. The case came to light following a police investigation that uncovered more than 500 child abuse images on her phone, with over 200 classified as category A, depicting the most serious forms of abuse.

Franklin admitted to the charge of making indecent images during a hearing on 4 November. The legal definition of 'making' images encompasses downloading and storing such content, as confirmed by the Crown Prosecution Service. She was arrested on 12 September 2024 after Wiltshire Police discovered the images during their investigation.

At the sentencing on Monday, the court imposed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. Additionally, Franklin was subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict her behaviour and prevent further offences. The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of her phone, along with payment of a £186 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

Detective Constable Jason Walsh, the lead investigator from Wiltshire Police, described Franklin's crimes as 'abhorrent'. He stated: 'Making indecent images of children is a serious offence and our team are committed to rooting out individuals like Franklin for their extremely abhorrent behaviour.' Walsh further emphasised the severity, noting: 'During our investigation, we found more than 200 images classed as category A on Franklin's phone – these images depict the most serious abuse of children. Each one of these children in the images are victims.'

The case underscores Wiltshire Police's commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation, with the force highlighting the devastating impact on victims in every instance of such material.