In Grimsby, UK, a judge has ordered a pedophile to undergo special eye therapy to curb his interests among children.
Antony Akid, 35, admitted to possessing obscene images of children and was told he must have eye desensitization therapy by paying for it himself or via the NHS.
In Grimsby Crown Court, Judge Ahmed Nadim deferred Akid’s prison sentence in order to assess his response to the therapy. The court heard that it was the second time in six years that Akid had been convicted of possessing indecent images of children.
In 2014, Akid received a 12-month prison sentence that was extended to two years after admitting eight counts of possession and one of distribution of racy images.
Judge Nadim said the latest conviction was ‘a persistent breach and a breach of the Sex Prevention Order imposed at the previous hearing’.
He added that Akid admitted to ‘having a perverted sexual interest in child pornography but had never ‘translated that into acting out those fantasies.’
Judge Nadim said that Akid was willing to accept and that he was committed to correcting and re-focusing himself after the defense said he had experienced childhood trauma and is now seeking psychological support.
The eye movement desensitization and reprocessing or EMDR is a therapy in which a patient recalls a traumatic event, usually from their childhood or in a theatre of war.
The therapy is used in the treatment of panic attacks, anxiety, addictions, and eating disorders where patients disclose their feelings as a practitioner moves an image, or a finger, from side to side as they are talking.
Judge Nadim said he wanted confirmation within three days that Akid had made contact with experts, warning he will impose a ‘significant sentence’ if he does not.
“You contribute to the exploitation of vulnerable children that leads to immeasurable harm,” Judge Nadim told Akid. “The images you viewed are created with harm and with the consequential danger that lasts many years.”
“The easiest thing would be to look at the guidance and determine how long you are going to prison for,” the Judge added. “I am willing to accept that you are committed to referring yourself to specialists and correcting yourself, and re-focusing yourself.”
“If that can be achieved that will be good for you and good for society,” the Judge continued. “I am giving you a chance that you will take measures to correct yourself.”
“In the meantime, you will not offend in any way shape, or form and you will obtain counseling and therapy,” he said. “I don’t expect you to wait for financial reasons.”