James Hawkins watched boys being sexually abused on a webcam

by Paul Hooper

A former RAF serviceman spent £17,000 to watch young boys perform sex acts more than 3,000 miles away in Africa.

Married James Hawkins, 74, used his computer webcam to access a website in Ghana to view live sex acts involving children as young as 11.

The Ramsgate pensioner even used the couple’s joint bank account to wire cash to pay "pimps" to recruit the boys.

And when police officers raided his home in Dane Park Road in May last year they discovered more than 700 illegal sex images on his computer.

Hawkins – who was jailed for two years in 1964 at a court martial for attempted buggery – has now been jailed for 16 months.

He told officers: "This happened before in Singapore. I served 18 months of a two-year sentence for indecent assault on a boy. I thought I had put all this behind me."

Hawkins - who has now moved to a second home in Oxfordshire - pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing indecent images of a child, three of making indecent images and two of inciting boys aged 12 and 13 to engage in sex outside the UK.

Alastair Keith, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court that Hawkins gave his computer to expert Christopher Clancy for repair.

"He discovered material which he then reported to police," he said. "Officers then went to Hawkins’ home on April 1 and arrested him."

Forensic experts discovered hundreds of indecent photographs up to the worst level five on three computers and storage devices.

Mr Keith added: "When the computers were examined they revealed a number of chatlogs were being used by Hawkins for having sexual conversations with children and their pimps.

"His webcam was used for the chats, which allowed him to watch the children perform sex acts. The range of age of the children was between 11 to 16.

"Money had been transferred between Hawkins in return for him watching sexual activity with the children, including oral sex."

The court heard checks revealed the victims were children in Ghana and between October 2009 and April last year, Hawkins had paid £17,000 to their pimps.

Ian Foinette, defending, said: "He is thoroughly ashamed of what he did and sought help immediately after his arrest."

Judge Adele Williams told Hawkins: "These children were being sexually abused and exploited before your own eyes – albeit they were in Ghana. And you were paying directly for that."