Bell, had pleaded guilty to making an indecent photo/photograph of a child and another charge of distributing an indecent photograph of a child. Both offences were said to have taken place on or before June 18^th 2013. His offences relate to 10 indecent images of children.

Trimley St Martin Parish Council received a letter from Bell tendering his resignation as a councillor following his first appearance before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court. An investigation into Bell was launched after a search warrant was executed at another man's address at the start of February. The computer devices seized revealed illicit images had been sent and received from Bell’s address. On June 18^th a warrant was carried out at Bell's home. A Dell computer tower was seized on which the indecent images were found.

Until his guilty pleas Bell had no previous convictions.

Bell was made the subject of a 5 year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and fined £360 by Ipswich Magistrates. In addition to his sexual offences prevention order and his fine, magistrates told Bell he must pay £36 to the Victims Fund and £85 towards prosecution costs.

Following Bell's conviction Trimley St Martin Parish Council issued a statement, it read "The parish council met as usual on Tuesday, November 5^th. Councillor Bell was not in attendance at this meeting having already sent his apologies to the clerk on October 31^st." adding "Councillor Bell has tendered a written letter of resignation, dated November the ^th5 2013, which was received by the Chairman, John Barker, today. At the time of his appearance in court, for matters completely unconnected with parish council business, councillor Bell had already resigned from his post as parish councillor."