In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Philip Love, then 34, of Alcester, Warwickshire, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court for the possession and publication of vile extreme pornography. A group of internet vigilantes snared love after he joined a group on the messaging app Kik to share depraved interests in bestiality. The investigation by Warwickshire Police followed a “sting” operation in a Tesco car park in Shirley, Solihull, where the vigilantes alerted the authorities to his sickening digital stash.
The court heard that Philip Love had amassed a collection of 80 images and 201 videos on his mobile phone. The horrific material depicted adults and children having penetrative sex with a wide variety of animals, including horses, dogs, a pig, and a snake. Love pleaded guilty to one count of publishing an obscene article and seven counts of possessing extreme pornography. Judge Richard Bond noted that the horrendous nature of these images involves the exploitation of people who are often victims of human trafficking and forced into degrading acts for the perverted gratification of viewers.
During sentencing, Judge Bond questioned “what will prison achieve?” for the first-time offender, noting that Love’s “public humiliation was already complete” as his name would now be synonymous with his vile crimes in Alcester and the surrounding areas. The judge emphasised that viewing such material is not a victimless crime, as it supports an industry built on the suffering and degradation of both humans and animals. Love expressed that he was “truly sorry” for his actions, though the court noted the serious nature of his predatory search for like-minded individuals online.
As a result of his conviction for these serious sexual crimes, Philip Love was handed a three-year community order. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement, and participate in a specialised sex offenders’ programme. While he avoided an immediate jail term, he is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Warwickshire Police, remaining under intensive supervision to ensure public safety. Any further predatory digital activity or breach of his order in Alcester, Warwickshire, or elsewhere will result in his immediate return to court for re-sentencing.
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