ALAN BURROLL FROM ABERYSTWYTH INVOLVED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE AT SWANSEA CROWN COURT

In a tragic turn of events, Alan William Burrell, a 54-year-old resident of Aberystwyth, was found dead in his flat on 8 February, after having previously admitted to possessing indecent images of children. The police discovered Burrell’s body following a welfare check, which was initiated after he had been last seen by a neighbor five days earlier. His death was ruled a suicide by coroner Peter Brunton, who noted that a post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death to be a toxic combination of prescription medication and alcohol.

Burrell’s mental health struggles were well-documented, as he had been diagnosed with depression in 2010 and more recently with leukemia in January of the same year. The coroner highlighted that Burrell left behind a note expressing concern about the proceedings at Swansea Crown Court, where he was scheduled to be sentenced. Mr. Brunton stated that the note indicated Burrell was “concerned about what was going to happen at the crown court” and was “under extreme pressure.” He further explained that Burrell felt overwhelmed by the consequences of his actions and could no longer cope.

Earlier in the year, in February 2018, Burrell had pleaded guilty to possessing over 13,000 indecent images of children. The charges stemmed from a police search of his residence at 7 Everton House, Cliff Terrace, Aberystwyth, where officers uncovered a significant collection of illicit material on his computer. The images were categorized into different levels of severity, with three images classified as Category A, the most serious, 41 images as Category B, and a staggering 13,279 images as Category C, the least severe.

Prosecutor Helen Tench detailed that Burrell’s internet searches included terms such as ‘jailbait’ and ‘tiny,’ and the images depicted girls estimated to be between 12 and 16 years old. While the majority of the images were in the lowest category, the sheer volume of material was concerning enough for magistrates to refer the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing. Burrell’s defense solicitor, Alan Lewis, acknowledged that there was significant mitigation in Burrell’s case, but emphasized that these matters would be addressed during the sentencing hearing.

Following his guilty plea, Burrell was released on unconditional bail, with a sentencing date set for 23 February. In the meantime, he is required to register as a sex offender, a legal obligation that remains in effect until further notice. The case has garnered significant attention due to the serious nature of the charges and the tragic circumstances surrounding Burrell’s death, highlighting the profound impact such cases have on individuals and communities alike.