Timothy Brian Lovegrove

A 68-year-old man from west Dorset has been sentenced to prison for possessing and creating a vast collection of indecent images of children, spanning nearly two decades.

Timothy Brian Lovegrove, of Black Lane in Evershot, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, September 30, for sentencing following his guilty pleas to serious sexual offences. The court heard that between April 10, 2004, and June 24, 2021, Lovegrove had made 24 Category A, 17 Category B, and 2,194 Category C moving and still indecent images of children. These categories represent the most severe levels of child sexual abuse material, with Category A being the most explicit and harmful.

In addition to the child exploitation material, Lovegrove admitted to possessing 27 extreme pornographic images during the same period. These images depicted, in an explicit and realistic manner, a person performing an act of intercourse with a live animal, highlighting the depraved nature of his collection.

The judge imposed four concurrent custodial sentences totalling 32 months' imprisonment. Lovegrove was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely and made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to protect the public from further risk.

Dorset Police investigated the case, leading to Lovegrove's arrest and charges. The sentencing underscores the authorities' commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation and bestiality-related offences. As stated in court proceedings reported by Bridport and Lyme Regis News, the offences were committed over an extended period, demonstrating a sustained pattern of illegal behaviour.