Fears of child porn case man

A SEAFORD man accused of downloading child porn refused to give his address in court for fear his mother could be the innocent victim of vigilante attacks.

John Wright, 49, appeared at Lewes Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to answer 26 charges of possessing indecent photographs of children.

However, despite selling his home in Kingsmead Way, Seaford, and moving in with his 80-year-old mother, he was still registered at the Seaford address in official court records.

His solicitor, Stuart Grace, told the court that Mr Wright, formerly a pub quizmaster at the Seven Sisters pub, Seaford, would not give his new address in open court. He feared it would be published and his mother would be an innocent victim of vigilantes and 'the ravings of lunatics that read newspapers'.

It was also revealed that the court had received a letter from the new elderly owner of the Kingsmead Way property. The pensioner feared she could be accidentally targeted unless it was made clear Mr Wright no longer lived there.

The Sussex Express and prosecutor George Scott made representations to the court that there was no legal reason why Mr Wright's new address should not be read in open court.

Magistrates agreed and ordered Mr Wright to give his address. He again refused and after an adjournment to consult his solicitor gave his address as the Hickstead Travel Lodge.

Magistrates' chairman Brian Turner released him on unconditional bail and ordered him to appear at Lewes Magistrates Court on September 25 when his case would be heard in full.