In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Wayne Horkan, then 48, of Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, West Midlands, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court for the possession of extreme pornographic imagery. Horkan, a businessman, was spared a custodial sentence but received a significant financial penalty.
The investigation established that during a raid on Horkan’s home, police discovered 1,469 still images and 210 videos depicting sexual acts involving dogs and horses. These “abhorrent” materials were created and downloaded between April 2014 and April 2015.
Consensual Acts and Aggravating Features
The court reported that two of the videos depicted a woman with whom Horkan had been in a relationship. The prosecution stated that the woman engaged in sexual acts with Horkan’s dogs, and Horkan admitted to filming the acts and watching them for sexual gratification on numerous occasions.
Judge Melbourne Inman QC noted that while the behaviour was “consensual adult behaviour,” the fact that Horkan filmed a live-in partner engaged in these acts was a significant aggravating feature of the case. The judge described the imagery as “abhorrent” but acknowledged that Horkan was an intelligent man who had already suffered the loss of “important” employment as a result of the charges.
Sentence and Financial Penalties
For his crimes in the West Midlands, Wayne Horkan was handed the following:
- Fines: Horkan was ordered to pay a £4,000 fine.
- Costs: Ordered to pay £1,200 in prosecution costs.
- Conviction: Pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Horkan is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by West Midlands Police. While he was spared jail, his possession of such a large volume of “depraved” animal-related imagery means his status remains under scrutiny to ensure he does not continue to access or produce illegal content.
As a result of his conviction, Horkan must adhere to strict guidelines regarding the possession of electronic devices and illegal media. West Midlands Police state they will conduct periodic checks to ensure his new business ventures are not used to facilitate further “vile” digital offending. Any further discovery of extreme material will result in his immediate return to Birmingham Crown Court.
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