Judge rules against ex-teacher in landmark child sex doll case

Alison Bough

A judge in the UK has ruled that child-like sex dolls are ‘obscene’ after a former primary school teacher was found with two in his possession.

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) called the landmark ruling “the first of its kind” following a case against retired primary school teacher David Turner (72) who was found in possession of two such silicone dolls.

Turner was arrested last November when Border Force officers intercepted a three foot doll resembling a minor that he had imported from China, the BBC reports. The ex-teacher and churchwarden claimed the doll would serve as a “companion” for himself and his wife.

The NCA state that although Turner admitted importing and having sex with the 3ft 10in doll, he asked a judge to decide if it was “indecent or obscene” in law.

The 72-year-old was also found to be in possession of more than 34,000 indecent images of children between the ages of three and 16, and is due to be sentenced in September.

Turner, who is expected to face up to 14 years in prison for possessing the indecent images, was sentenced in June to serve almost three years in prison after his third child sex doll purchase led police to his home.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that officers have seized 123 dolls since March of last year, with seven individuals charged with importing the items – advertised as ‘adult dolls’ on sites such as eBay and Amazon.

According to the BBC, Turner’s legal team argued that the item was not banned under the UK’s import laws, which prohibit indecent items. However, Judge Simon James disagreed and stated that “any right-thinking person” would find the minor-like mannequin obscene.

Hazel Stewart, from the NCA’s Specialist Operation Team, said the importation of child sex dolls is a relatively new phenomenon:

“We know their purchase can indicate other offences against children, as was the case against Turner who had a sickening stash of abuse images. The NCA and Border Force co-ordinate law enforcement activity, carrying out intelligence checks and offering specialist advice every time these indecent and obscene items are seized at the border.

Importers of such obscene items should expect to have law enforcement closing in on them.”