LEEDS, England: Nelson Leader, July 21, 2006 - A "lucky strike" by customs officers netted a high-flying accountant who was importing a massive amount of pornography into the UK, a court heard.

Andrew Wallis packed in his job in the Cayman Islands after three years working abroad and shipped his belongings back to the country through Leeds-Bradford Airport.

But when his freight in several containers was checked by suspicious officials at the airport, they found a huge amount of sick images - including some of children as young as two years old being abused.

Wallis pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court to two offences of importing prohibited goods and was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order.

Passing sentence, Judge Alistair McCallum said Wallis needed treatment for his "addiction" to pornography rather than being jailed.

"I have had the misfortune to view some of those items and I had to bring it to an end," he said after leaving court to watch the vile material.

Psychiatric reports indicated Wallis was "addicted" to hard-core porn.

Laura Addy (prosecuting) told the court it was a "matter of chance" his containers were searched while passing through the airport. Wallis had returned to the country in August, 2004, after living and working in the Cayman Islands.

The judge also ordered Wallis to attend a sex offenders programme during the three years he was on probation in the hope that this would cure him.


Jamaica's disaster chief to take over Cayman emergency agency

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Radio Jamaica, July 20, 2006 - Jamaica's minister responsible for disaster management, Dean Peart, has given the assurance that there will be no disruptions to the country's preparations for the hurricane season. 

His comment comes against the background of the resignation of Director General of the Office and Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Dr Barbara Carby.

Dr Carby, who has headed the agency for nine years, is to demit office in four weeks to take over as the Director of the newly formed National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the Cayman Islands.