Child-porn offender's former neighbours 'appalled'

RESIDENTS of Les Tracheries were shocked and appalled that a paedophile was living in their road. And many believe that bookkeeper David Hill's £4,000 fine was not enough. The 38-year-old was convicted on Friday for having 52 indecent images of children on his computer last September. 'The punishment should be nigh on the same as for murder,' said Alison Le Page, 30. 'If he had so many images, it should be 15 to 20 years in prison. They should go on a paedophile list and have their photo all over the newspaper so that people know what they look like,' said Miss Le Page, who works for Specsavers and has three nieces and one nephew. 'People let their children play freely on the beach and in parks in Guernsey but this would make me think twice.' Hill was the first Guernsey resident to be convicted locally as part of Operation Ore, the nation's biggest-ever hunt for Internet paedophiles. Computer crime unit head Garry Fusellier said that there were 11 targets in the Bailiwick but added that probably not all of them would go to court. Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said that he wanted them all to face justice. 'They should throw the book at them no matter what their status.' He said that he had never seen Hill, who was fined £250 for importing obscene videos in 1997, in the area. 'It was a shock to everybody when he was pulled up by police the first time.' Another said that Hill, who has now left the island, had been reclusive. 'I was staggered when I saw it in the paper. I had no idea.' Shoppers at nearby Stampers were disgusted by the crime but had varied views on punishments. Housewife Jill Cotran, 42, said: '£4,000 is ridiculous and won't stop someone doing it, especially if they are wealthy. They should definitely go to prison. 'That might make them realise that they have done something wrong. They sit at their computer in their little room and think they are untouchable but it is real children involved, not just an image. It's revolting. 'I've got two children and it's scary to think he lived just up the road.' Rodney Martel, 67, said that the fine was ludicrous. 'I don't know if anyone has the answer but it has to be dealt with firmly,' said Mr Martel, who set up Martel's Nurseries in 1959 and is now retired. 'My wife and I live in France now but child abuse is a worldwide problem that's happening all the time. We have five grandchildren and are concerned about it.' His wife, Mieke, 62, also retired, said that paedophilia was an illness. 'They have to be educated and helped. You can't just put them in jail.' Julia Bampton, 32, a telecom accounts manager from England, agreed. 'Prison never cured anyone of anything and they are overcrowded anyway. You hurt the individual more if you give them a really heavy fine. They should also confiscate his computer. The crime is repellent. To obtain the pornography children have had to be exploited and abused.'