Tim,

I'm gratified by your response. However, I still think you've missed the point I made about the issue of powerlessness on the part of the subjects of pornographic images.

El Greko,

You have also missed the point. In your case you appear to have made a conscious effort to do so. It's not just a question of urges or impulses. It's a question of choices. Paul Gadd could have reacted to his last conviction in the UK by seeking help. He appears instead to have chosen to go abroad and resume the same patterns of behaviour.

Weelittledrummer makes a very good point about how hard it is for someone to give up a destructive pattern of behaviour. This is especially the case when the behaviour is linked to mental illness, personality disorder (not the same thing) or learning difficulties. But that doesn't mean that no help is available and there are many people in the NHS who work extremely hard to help and treat people who have committed the most appalling acts.

Many of those health workers are themselves parents and it is not easy for them to divorce their own personal repugnance for an act from their professional commitment to care for their patient. But they do it. Gadd could have sought the help of such people. As a known offender, he would probably have been 'fast-tracked' to receive it if he wanted it. But he chose not to.

As it happens, I find the poll that was mentioned at the beginning of this thread to be a tasteless stunt on someone's part and no, I haven't voted in it. But there appears to be an assumption on the part of some people who have contributed that Gadd cannot expect a fair trial or justice in a far eastern country. All I can say to that is that if you do not wish to be held to account under another country's laws, perhaps you should not visit that country.