In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that 25-year-old Bradley Sedgeman—of Bodmin Road, Whitleigh—avoided prison after being caught with a collection of indecent images of children. The investigation established that Sedgeman downloaded 25 images while living at his parents’ home, with police tracing the activity to their IP address. The prosecution reported at Plymouth Crown Court that during a search on 12 September 2018, Sedgeman immediately confessed to officers, stating that he had a problem which had “got out of control.”
The investigation established that of the 25 files recovered, ten were in Category A—the most severe classification—depicting children being raped by adults. The prosecution reported that Sedgeman’s internet search history confirmed he had deliberately hunted for the material. Despite the “vile” nature of the imagery, Sedgeman’s defence argued that he had sought help from a support group prior to his arrest and had stopped downloading new material before the police arrived.
Judicial Findings and Community Order
The court reported that Sedgeman, a shop worker, had been supported by both his family and his employers during the two-year wait for his sentencing. The investigation established that while he pleaded guilty to three counts of possession, his cooperation with police and early attempts at rehabilitation were considered mitigating factors. The prosecution reported that during the sentencing, Recorder Robert Bright accepted that Sedgeman was remorseful and wanted to address his “perverted” curiosity.
Judge-led proceedings concluded with Sedgeman being handed a three-year community order rather than a custodial sentence. For his actions in Whitleigh and Plymouth and the nature of the child abuse images reported, he was also made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). The judge noted that this order is vital to allow the police to monitor his internet usage and ensure the ongoing safety of the public.
Status and Statutory Requirements
Based on the judicial orders issued at Plymouth Crown Court in 2020:
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Possession of indecent images x25; Category A, B, and C).
- Custodial Status: NON-CUSTODIAL (36-month community order).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were active for 5 YEARS (Set to conclude in 2025, pending any further offending).
- SHPO Status: Active for 5 YEARS (Mandating police monitoring of all digital devices and internet activity).
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children or vulnerable adults; permanently barred from all regulated activity).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court; investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police.
- Criminal Record: Caught with Category A images showing children being raped; Admitted his behaviour was “out of control”; Hunted for images via specific search terms; Avoided jail due to early admission and rehabilitation efforts.
- Origin: Bodmin Road, Whitleigh, Plymouth, Devon.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Sedgeman was managed under the statutory requirements of the Devon and Cornwall Probation Service during the completion of his community order and sex offender treatment. Due to the nature of his behaviour—specifically his consumption of “vile” rape imagery—he was a priority for digital forensic monitoring. Authorities reported that the 2020 conviction ensures Sedgeman’s details are logged on the national police database, providing a permanent safeguard for the public during any future safeguarding checks.
As a registered sex offender, his details were subject to police oversight. Authorities state that Sedgeman’s behaviour identifies an individual who prioritised his own curiosity over the safety and human rights of children. Any failure by Sedgeman to adhere to his notification requirements or his five-year SHPO in Whitleigh or elsewhere would result in immediate police intervention to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from a man who violated the principles of human decency.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was “Supported by his Employers” despite his conviction for viewing child rape imagery, do you believe that “Employer Notification” should legally be mandatory for all companies hiring individuals on the Sex Offenders Register, regardless of the job role?
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