Cameron aide arrested over child porn

[Sheilbh]

No 10 aide arrested over child porn: Police quiz 62-year-old who advised Cameron on web filters and was tipped for peerage
Patrick Rock was one of David Cameron's closest aides
The 62-year-old was involved in drawing up policy on child porn
But he quit after allegations against him were revealed
Unmarried aristocrat was tipped for peerage only weeks ago
By JAMES CHAPMAN
PUBLISHED: 22:46, 3 March 2014 | UPDATED: 23:20, 3 March 2014

One of David Cameron's closest aides has resigned after being arrested on child pornography allegations.

Patrick Rock has been closely involved in drawing up Government policy on internet porn filters.

He quit after the Prime Minister learned he was at the centre of a police probe over images of child abuse.

Detectives from the National Crime Agency searched No 10 and examined IT systems and offices used by Mr Rock, deputy director of the Downing Street policy unit.

Mr Rock was a protege of Margaret Thatcher and has held a series of senior posts in the Conservative Party. He has been close to Mr Cameron for many years.

Described as the Prime Minister's 'policy fixer', the unmarried 62-year-old had been tipped as a leading contender for a Conservative peerage only weeks ago.

His arrest and resignation from Downing Street, where he has worked since 2011, will send shockwaves through the party's high command. The Prime Minister is said to be 'extremely shocked'.

A friend said: 'He has known Patrick for a long time and never expected anything like this.'

Mr Rock was arrested last month after officials at No 10 were made aware of a 'potential offence relating to child abuse imagery', Mr Cameron's spokesman told the Daily Mail.

One well-placed source said Mr Rock had also been the subject of a sexual harassment complaint from a civil servant working in Downing Street, which is understood to have been passed to Mr Cameron's chief of staff Ed Llewellyn.

'There were accusations against him that didn't turn into a formal process. That has upset some people at No 10,' the source said.

Mr Cameron's relationship with Mr Rock goes back to the Home Office, where they both worked under Michael Howard in the 1990s.

Mr Rock, who has repeatedly tried to become an MP, is known in Westminster for coining the phrase 'Cows moo, dogs bark, Labour puts up taxes' used by the Tories in the 1970s.

The Prime Minister brought him back into Downing Street in 2011, a move welcomed by critics as heralding the return of a 'grown up' to the centre of government.

In the No 10 policy unit, he has taken a particular responsibility for home affairs issues and has also been involved in drawing up the Government's measures against internet pornography and child abuse imagery.

Google and other search engines introduced changes that will prevent depraved images from being listed in results for more than 100,000 searches after Government pressure

In a crusade spearheaded by the Prime Minister, Downing Street brokered a deal with internet firms which means that all 20million households connected to the internet are being contacted and asked whether they want family-friendly filters installed.

Downing Street also persuaded Google and other search engines to introduce changes that will prevent depraved images from being listed in results for more than 100,000 searches.

Downing Street confirmed that Mr Rock, who lives in West London, had been involved in the policy.

'Patrick Rock was one of a number of advisers and officials involved in dealing with this issue – but the work was led by somebody else, and decisions were taken by ministers,' a spokesman said.

'On the evening of February 12, Downing Street was first made aware of a potential offence relating to child abuse imagery. It was immediately referred to the National Crime Agency.

'The Prime Minister was immediately informed and kept updated throughout. Patrick Rock was arrested at his home in the early hours of February 13, a few hours after Downing Street had reported the matter.

'Subsequently, we arranged for officers to come into No 10 and have access to all IT systems and offices they considered relevant.

'This is an ongoing investigation so it would not be appropriate to comment further, but the Prime Minister believes that child abuse imagery is abhorrent and that anyone involved with it should be properly dealt with under the law.'

The spokesman denied suggestions that colleagues in No 10 had been told Mr Rock was 'off sick', but only the Prime Minister and a handful of his most senior officials appear to have been told the reason for his absence.

Downing Street refused to comment on the allegation of sexual harassment, but insisted: 'All complaints are dealt with very seriously and are dealt with appropriately.'

A pillar of the Tory establishment
By TOM KELLY and JAMES CHAPMAN

Born Patrick Robert John Rock de Besombes to a family of European aristocrats, he has worked for leading Tories for four decades.

But despite his impeccable social and political contacts, Oxford-educated Rock has repeatedly failed in his ambition to become a Conservative MP, despite being selected to fight safe seats.

Rock, 62 and unmarried, lives in a £500,000 flat in Parsons Green, West London. He was born in Kensington in 1951, a year after the marriage of his mother Gertrud and Egyptian-born father Robert John Rock de Besombes.

His paternal grandmother was a D'aigneaux, from a noble French family that originated in Normandy and boasts a coat of arms.

As a teenager, Rock boarded at the elite Jesuit Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, winning a scholarship to Worcester College, Oxford, where he studied history.

After graduation he worked as Margaret Thatcher's political correspondence secretary in the then Prime Minister's Office and also as managing director of the Retail Consortium.

It is not clear when he shortened his name to plain Patrick Rock, but he used it while fighting the Woolwich East election in 1979, aged 28, which he lost despite increasing the Tory vote.

After losing Crewe and Nantwich in the 1983 election he was selected in a by-election to defend the seemingly impregnable safe seat of Portsmouth South in 1984, which had a Tory majority of over 12,000.

The Portsmouth News described him as 'Mrs Thatcher's protege' who had been hand-picked by Downing Street to contest the seat ahead of more impressive local candidates.

During the campaign he was described as 'likeable and energetic but slightly wet behind the ears'. His campaign went catastrophically wrong after he spoke on TV about a hospital that was not in the constituency.

Rock was unconcerned, declaring at a public meeting that he was 'absolutely certain' he would win the seat, predicting Labour would finish second and the Liberal SDP Alliance trail in third.

But after a 14 per cent swing against him, he was defeated by the Alliance's Mike Hancock in what was labelled the 'biggest election upset for years' and a 'great surprise' to Mrs Thatcher.

Newspaper reports described the defeated Rock leaving the count 'pale with shock'.

He blamed the defeat on too many Conservatives staying at home and Mrs Thatcher phoned him the following morning to assure him the defeat was not his fault. The following year, he was appointed to the Conservative Research Department.

He later worked as special adviser to Cabinet ministers in the Department of the Environment and then the Home Office, where he met David Cameron. The pair are famously said to have repaired to the Two Chairmen pub on the day of the death in 1994 of Labour leader John Smith, where they agreed Tony Blair would take over, leaving their party 'f*****'.

Rock again attempted to become an MP in 1990, applying for the safe Tory seat of Devizes, but failed to be selected.

He also worked in Brussels for EU Commissioner Chris Patten, with the responsibility for the western Balkans, before becoming a policy adviser at Downing Street.

Colleagues describe him as 'abrasive' and 'a commentator rather an a doer'. Another said his arrest over child abuse images was a 'terrific shock'.

Wow

[citizen k]

Probably doing research.

[CountDeMoney]

If it turns out to be true, he should do the only honorable thing left, like this guy.

U.S. senator's former aide facing child porn charges found dead in Sykesville
Jesse Loskarn, 35, was fired after his arrest last month

A former congressional aide facing federal child pornography charges was found dead at his Sykesville family's home in an apparent suicide, Carroll County sheriff's officials said Friday.

Jesse Ryan Loskarn, 35, former chief of staff to Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, was found unresponsive by family members about noon Thursday in the basement of the home, the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Bruce Goldfarb, spokesman for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Maryland, said Loskarn's death has been ruled a suicide by hanging.

Sheriff's officials said Loskarn had been living with his family at the home in the 6400 block of Kenmar Drive since December, when a judge ordered that he live under his parents' supervision.

U.S. postal agents arrested Loskarn last month on suspicion of possessing and attempting to distribute child pornography, according to federal court records. Alexander, who is seeking a third term this year, fired Loskarn after his arrest.

"For everyone involved, this is a sad and tragic story from beginning to end," Alexander said in a statement.

No one answered the door Friday afternoon at the family home, which sits at the end of a dead-end street in a quiet Sykesville neighborhood. No police were present, but four news organizations were at the scene.

Pamela S. Satterfield, Loskarn's attorney, declined to comment Friday.

Loskarn, who went by the name of Ryan, previously worked for Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican. He also served as communications director for the Senate Republican Conference.

According to federal court records, Loskarn was born and raised in Maryland. He attended Tulane University in New Orleans and spent most of his professional life working on Capitol Hill. He had been living in a home in Southeast Washington that he has owned since 2009 until a judge required that he move in with his parents.

The investigation that led to Loskarn's arrest began in 2010. According to a statement of facts filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Toronto Police Service began investigating a movie production company that offered DVDs and streaming videos for sale, most of which featured young nude boys.

A review of customer invoices and purchase summaries, as well as postal service records, led authorities to believe Loskarn had made several purchases between November 2010 and March 2011, court records said.

Early in October, postal inspectors identified Loskarn's IP address on a network offering files with names that were consistent with child pornography.

On Dec. 11, investigators executed a search warrant at Loskarn's Washington home. When no one answered, officers rammed the door. According to court records, as investigators went in, one noticed Loskarn leaning out a second-floor window and placing something on the ledge before closing the window. It was found to be a portable hard drive, court documents said. A computer forensic examiner inspected the hard drive and found child pornography, documents state.

On Dec. 12, Loskarn was charged with possessing child pornography and attempting to distribute child pornography.

His attorneys asked that the judge release Loskarn to his family. In a memorandum in support of his pretrial release, Loskarn's attorneys said his professional history and community ties should be considered.

"He has no history of drug or alcohol abuse and Mr. Loskarn's background suggests that he is a decent, hardworking, loyal employee, friend and family member," Loskarn's attorneys said in a court filing. His attorneys suggested that Loskarn submit to law enforcement monitoring, surrender his passport and undergo a mental health evaluation.

A judge agreed with the stipulations and ordered him confined to his parents' home 24 hours a day, except for court- or health-related matters.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola placed Loskarn in a "high intensity supervision program" and prohibited him from using the Internet, which his parents promised to enforce.

In a statement Friday, Chuck and Gay Loskarn told other news organizations, "We loved our son very much, and we're devastated by his death. Please respect our privacy at this difficult time and let us grieve in peace. Pray for him, his family and friends."

[garbon]

Hanging seems like such a terrible way.

[Monoriu]

If it turns out to be true, he should do the only honorable thing left, like this guy.

Since when have you become Japanese 

[CountDeMoney]

Hanging seems like such a terrible way.

It can be quick, if it's done the right way.

[garbon]

Hanging seems like such a terrible way.

It can be quick, if it's done the right way.

I wonder how many people committing suicide manage that.

[CountDeMoney]

If it turns out to be true, he should do the only honorable thing left, like this guy.

Since when have you become Japanese 

They know how to do do the right thing in the end, for a personal failing so vile there's no chance to recover your honor and personal decency.

Unless you're Pete Townsend and you can get away with it.

[CountDeMoney]

I wonder how many people committing suicide manage that.

About 20% of them, actually.  And it's getting more popular.

CDC finds suicide rates among middle-aged adults increased from 1999-2010

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2013/p0502-suicide-rates.html

Suicide rates increased 81 percent for hanging/suffocation, compared to 14 percent for firearm and 24 percent for poisoning.
Firearm and hanging/suffocation were the most common suicide mechanisms for middle-aged men. Poisoning and firearm were the most common mechanisms for middle-aged women.

[Monoriu]

Best way to suicide is to burn charcoal in an air-tight room.  Painless and sure way to die.  Or jump off a building.  Takes a few seconds though.

[Queequeg]

Unless you're Pete Townsend and you can get away with it.

Wait, what?

[Ed Anger]

Unless you're Pete Townsend and you can get away with it.

Wait, what?

Look it up. Srsly.

[Capetan Mihali]

Hanging oneself may not be painless, but it's effective if done remotely right.  Once you pass out, you're not going to be able to screw it up any longer, provided you have a few minutes alone.  The main obstacle is the possibility of being rescued, if you're doing it in a prison/mental hospital or if you've alerted people to it.

[Siege]

Burn the mothefucker.

At the stake.

[dps]

Burn the mothefucker.

At the stake.

His problem wasn't fucking somebody's mother.