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Peel man sentenced for possessing child pornography

Mon, 07 Jan 2013

A former Peel commissioner has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for possessing indecent images of children.

44-year-old Arran Kaighin appeared before Deemster Montgomerie for sentencing today (Monday).

Last August Mr Kaighin came to the public’s attention when he went missing for several days, sparking searches by the emergency services and people from the community.

He was found by police at Knockaloe Farm after two workmen noticed signs that someone was inside the farmhouse.

The day before he went missing Kaighin had been arrested for possessing indecent pictures of girls aged between 12 and 14.

The court heard Mr Kaighin’s wife had first discovered her husband was looking at child pornography on his computer in April 2011.

He’d promised to seek help and the matter wasn’t originally reported to police.

Then in August 2012, Kaighin’s wife found two memory cards containing similar images in his wallet and this time police were told.

In total more than 3,000 pictures were found on electronic devices owned by Kaighin.

The defence said depression was at the root of Kaighin’s offences and he had wanted to take his own life for several years, but couldn’t bring himself to do it.

The court was told he’d deliberately left the memory cards where his wife would find them and knowing he would be caught, he’d then be forced to commit suicide.

As police tried to arrest him at the farmhouse Kaighin had cut himself but the wounds weren’t serious and he was soon released from hospital.

The Deemster gave him credit for making a full admission and pleading guilty.

Kaighin was sentenced to 10 months in prison but will soon be released because of the time he’s already spent on remand.

He’ll be placed on the sex offender’s register for seven years.

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