A former representative for the Tories between May 2002 and May 2003, Simon Anthonisz was sentenced to six months in jail by magistrates for possessing materials that depicted minors in exploitive sexual activities.
Anthonisz was arrested on suspicion of making and distributing indecent pictures of children. His home was searched and computers were seized under the terms of the Protection of Children Act of 1978.
Anthonisz initially confessed to downloading videos and still shots of children being sexually exploited, but the 15 offenses he admitted to paled in comparison to the 400 images investigators later found on his hard drive.
The former councilor is married and with children, and during the time he served as a borough councilor, he reportedly devoted a majority of his private life to coveting child porn.
Anthonisz' defending attorney said at his hearing that her client had no previous convictions and that 90 per cent of the pictures were of children in their early to mid-teens. The attorney also added that her client had only looked at the pictures once.
Anthonisz was quoted as saying that his sexuality had been permanently altered after his years in boarding school where there was a lot of sexual activity between young boys.
According to his attorney, Anthonisz' arrest was a great shock to him and his family and his life has changed quite drastically since the time of his arrest.
"He is extremely remorseful," the attorney said. "I would submit that he is a man who has clearly had a fall from grace. He has already suffered shame and punishment in the community. He is a man who will not offend again."
Anthonisz reportedly pleaded guilty when first approached by investigators, which might have factored into his lighter sentence.
He was sentenced to six months in prison on multiple charges for possession of child pornography. The sentences are to run concurrently. He will also be listed as a sex offender for the next seven years, according to British authorities.
