In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Hugh McDermott, then 63, of Church Avenue, Aintree, Merseyside, received a suspended prison sentence for possessing a massive stash of child abuse material. On 15 February 2019, McDermott appeared at Liverpool Crown Court after an occupational therapist discovered him watching a depraved slideshow of children being raped on his television.
The investigation established that when the council worker entered McDermott’s darkened home for a scheduled visit in September 2018, she found him partially undressed in his underwear. As she began her care plan, she noticed the television displaying a series of images of naked children and toddlers being assaulted. Police subsequently seized his computer equipment and discovered a vile collection of 4,969 indecent images, including 1,806 Category A photographs and three Category A videos, representing the most serious levels of abuse.
Judicial Findings and Criminal History
The court reported that McDermott was a persistent predator with a history of extreme sexual violence. He was previously convicted of indecently assaulting a girl in 1984 and was later jailed for 10 years in 1990 for the rape, attempted rape, and indecent assault of children in Northern Ireland. Despite this history, Judge Robert Warnock noted that McDermott had not been back to court in nearly 30 years and that, at the time of his previous release, he had not been required to sign the Sex Offenders Register.
The prosecution emphasised that the therapist was very shocked and disgusted by the discovery, which led to the immediate police intervention. The judge emphasised that by downloading these foul images, McDermott was actively promoting the physical abuse of children. However, the judge also acknowledged that McDermott was a chronic alcoholic suffering from disabling arthritis and was socially isolated within his property.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Aintree, Hugh McDermott was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.
- Curfew: An eight-month home curfew between 8 pm and 6 am daily.
- SHPO: A 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed.
- Sex Offenders Register: Ordered to sign the register for 10 years.
- Rehabilitation: Mandatory attendance at the Horizon sex offender treatment programme and a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
Monitoring and Public Protection
McDermott is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Merseyside Police. His history of serious sexual violence and his recent consumption of extreme abuse material mean his status remains under scrutiny by authorities in Aintree.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, McDermott must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Church Avenue, Aintree. Authorities state that his treatment programme and SHPO are critical tools to address his paedophile tendencies and monitor his digital activity. Any breach of his registration conditions, his curfew, or the terms of his suspended sentence will result in his immediate return to Liverpool Crown Court.
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