ADRIAN MILES FROM DARLASTON INVOLVED IN CHILD INDECENT IMAGE CASE IN WALSALL AND BANNED FROM CHURCH IN SMETHWICK

In September 2016, Adrian Miles, a resident of Short Street in Darlaston, found himself at the center of a disturbing case involving the possession of a significant number of indecent images of children. The authorities uncovered that Miles had stored over 6,000 such images on his personal devices, including a laptop and a USB drive. The images were categorized into various classes, with 6,063 classified as Class C, 42 as Class B, and 11 as the most severe Category A images. These illicit files were stored in folders with titles like 'Hotties One' and 'Yummy 10,' indicating a disturbing level of organization and intent.

Police investigations were initiated after a tip-off received on September 29, leading to Miles's arrest. During the subsequent legal proceedings at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Miles, aged 49, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession or creation of indecent images of children, along with one count of possessing a prohibited image. The court also discovered that his internet history included search terms related to 'pre-teen naturists,' further highlighting the disturbing nature of his online activity.

In sentencing, the court opted for a combination of punishment and rehabilitation. Miles was sentenced to 12 months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses. Additionally, he was subjected to a mental health treatment requirement lasting two years, along with a 25-day rehabilitation program. A ten-year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed, requiring Miles to allow police access to his internet history to monitor any future activity. Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a decade.

Prosecutor Howard Searle highlighted the nature of the evidence, stating, 'Images were also stored on a USB stick and split into folders which were given titles such as Hotties One and Yummy 10.' Defense solicitor Arvind Sharma noted that during psychological assessments, Miles admitted to having an attraction to children, which he described as a positive admission, setting him apart from many similar offenders. Sharma emphasized that probation officers believed this insight would facilitate their work in managing his case.

Judge Stephen Ward addressed Miles directly, emphasizing the importance of balancing punishment with public safety and rehabilitation. He stated, 'I have to hand out a sentence that will not only punish you but help you rehabilitate if possible and also protect the public. I believe if you spent six months or a year in prison you would come out worse. Giving you access to help is a safer solution.'

In a separate incident from April 2001, Adrian Miles, then aged 34 and residing in Edgbaston, Birmingham, was involved in a controversy at Bearwood Baptist Church in Smethwick. Miles had written a 'romantic' letter to a 13-year-old girl he met at the church last year, shortly after Christmas. The girl's father raised concerns with the church minister, Reverend Warwick Lydiate, about the nature of the correspondence, which led to Miles being banned from attending the church. The Reverend confirmed that Miles was no longer welcome due to the letter, which was deemed inappropriate.

Following the ban, Miles was charged with harassment, accused of writing multiple letters to the church leadership and posting posters in the church lobby protesting the decision. Miles claimed he believed the girl was 16 years old and insisted that his intentions were innocent, asserting, 'I haven't done anything wrong, I wrote to this girl with pure intentions. It was a romantic, friendly letter to a girl who I thought was older — but there was no sexual connotation to it at all.' He also expressed distress over losing his home and being forced to live in a hostel, feeling unfairly ostracized by the church community.

Reverend Lydiate clarified that Miles was aware of the child's age and that the letter came to light early in the new year, prompting the church to treat the matter as a child protection issue. Miles was subsequently charged with harassment, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and/or a £5,000 fine. He claimed to have been threatened by a police officer during his arrest and was scheduled to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court in July. The police confirmed that a formal complaint had been made against an officer involved in the arrest, which was under investigation.