Reading Crown Court: Thatcham paedophile gets sentencing adjourned

A MAN caught with thousands of indecent images of children has persuaded a judge to delay sentencing him.

Rex Fenemore had been due to learn his fate at Reading Crown Court on Friday, November 4.

The 70-year-old, of The Court, off Park Avenue in Thatcham, has already admitted having 507 images of children in Category A.

This category contains the worst kind of images of children being sexually abused by adults.

He further admitted having 596 images in Category B.

Finally, Fenemore admitted having 781 images in Category C.

All the above offences were committed in Thatcham between December 8, 2017, and July 20 last year.

But at his sentencing hearing Fenemore's defence barrister, Daniel O'Donoghue, said his client needed more time to produce character references to help with his mitigation.

The judge, Recorder David Brock, said: "I'm told by your counsel that you want to put before the court some more references, and that you can't do that today due to ill health.

"Therefore the case isn't ready for sentencing today."

He adjourned all matters until Friday, December 2 and added: "You must be back for that day or you will be committing an (additional) offence for which you could be punished."

At a previous hearing, at Reading Magistrates' Court, district judge Samuel Goozee had declined further jurisdiction because he believed his powers of punishment at a lower court could be insufficient.

Recorder Brock agreed to extend Fenemore's unconditional bail until December 2 but warned him that he should not take that as any indication of what sort of punishment he might ultimately face.

He told Fenemore: "The judge on the day will sentence you as he thinks appropriate, having regard to any mitigation you put before the court."