In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that 32-year-old Anthony Hill was sentenced to a five-year community order after being found in possession of 3,500 child abuse images. Following a conviction at Hull Crown Court, East Yorkshire, the defendant—of Thorpe Road, Brough—admitted to making and possessing indecent images and videos. It was reported that the collection included 100 videos involving children younger than ten years old, which had been downloaded using peer-to-peer and torrent software.
The investigation established that Hill had been working at a Morrisons supermarket in Brough while the legal proceedings were active. Hull Live reported that parents and grandparents in the Welton Road area were disgusted to see the convicted sex offender on the shop floor serving families just days after his sentencing. The prosecution reported that Hill was originally arrested by plain-clothed officers at a different Morrisons store in Mexborough, yet his employers claimed they were never notified of the charges or the conviction by either the police or the defendant.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Hill’s digital activity involved a significant volume of “vile” material depicting the exploitation of very young children. Hull Crown Court heard that the community was shocked by the perceived leniency of the sentence, which mandated 31 monthly sessions with the Horizons team and ten rehabilitation activity days. The investigation established that Hill’s presence in a high-traffic retail environment caused significant distress to local residents, with some parents threatening to boycott the store until he was removed.
Judge John Thackray QC presided over the sentencing in early 2020. For his actions in Brough and Mexborough, Hill was placed under strict supervision rather than being handed an immediate custodial term. The judge noted that the community order was designed to address Hill’s behaviour through long-term rehabilitation; however, a Morrisons spokeswoman confirmed that Hill was immediately suspended from his role once the company became aware of his criminal status through public reports.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Anthony Hill as of April 1, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: Community Order (Sentenced 2020; supervision active until 2025).
- Community Requirements: 5-year order including Horizons programme and rehabilitation days.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active until 2025.
- Employment Status: Suspended/Dismissed from Morrisons in 2020.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Hull Crown Court, following a South Yorkshire and Humberside Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Making and possessing indecent images of children (Multiple categories).
- Origin: Thorpe Road, Brough, East Yorkshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Hill is managed as a registered sex offender within the East Yorkshire area. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the possession of thousands of images of children under ten, his management is a priority for the Humberside Police Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that the failure of the notification system regarding his employment in Brough highlights the need for more robust communication between the police and employers when an offender works in a public-facing role.
As a registered sex offender until 2025, Hill’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his 31 monthly sessions with the Horizons team are intended to monitor his risk levels and prevent re-offending. Any attempt to seek employment involving contact with children, any unauthorised internet use, or any failure to comply with his rehabilitation sessions in Brough or elsewhere in East Yorkshire will result in immediate arrest and the potential for a custodial sentence to be imposed by the court.
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