Kent pensioner cleared of extreme pornographic charges
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by Keith
Hunt
A pensioner cleared earlier this year of involvement in an
illegal coin-making factory has now been acquitted of possessing
extreme pornographic images.
Former stand-up comic Michael Silk, of Sanderling Way, Iwade,
had denied six offences, involving bestiality, alleged to have been
committed in May last year.
Alex Wilson, prosecuting, told a judge at Maidstone Crown Court
on Tuesday that after discussions with an expert he was offering no
further evidence as he believed there was no realistic prospect of
conviction.
Mr Wilson said there had been considerable debate as to the
meaning of possession of the images on 70-year-old Mr Silk's
computer.
A new law making the possession of such images came into force
on January 26 last year, but the expert could not determine when Mr
Silk viewed the images.
James Martin, defending, told Judge Philip St John-Stevens: "We
are talking about someone who has viewed something and not
downloaded it.
"He simply viewed it and the computer has stored it
temporarily."
The judge entered formal not guilty verdicts.
Mr Silk, who is in poor health, was cleared of making thousands
of £1 counterfeit coins with intent in February after the
prosecution again offered no further evidence.
The decision followed a jury's failure to reach a verdict on
three charges in December.
Mr Silk's son Stephen, 49, of Wises Lane, Borden, was jailed for
three-and-a-half years in February, after admitting
masterminding the scam.
The court heard police raided a unit at Tonge Corner, near
Sittingbourne, and found 8,000 fake £1 coins in a concealed
area.
Tuesday, June 15 2010
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