ALEXANDER THIRKELL'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN BISHOP’S STORTFORD, DARLINGTON, HALIFAX, AND SPENNYMOOR

In a disturbing case that spans multiple locations including Bishop’s Stortford, Darlington, Halifax, and Spennymoor, Alexander Thirkell has been brought to justice for a series of serious offenses involving child exploitation and extreme pornography. The case was brought to light after police conducted a raid on his former residence in Hadham Road, Bishop’s Stortford, on April 21 of the previous year, leading to a series of revelations about his criminal activities.

During the investigation, authorities examined the hard drive of Thirkell’s computer and uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images. A total of 76 such images were identified, with most classified as level 1, indicating the lowest level of severity. However, alarmingly, 28 images were categorized at levels 3 and 4, indicating a higher degree of seriousness. The images predominantly depicted young girls around the age of 14, raising grave concerns about the exploitation of minors.

Thirkell, aged 40, who now resides in Halifax with his wife and young son, pleaded guilty to eight counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of possessing extreme pornography involving an octopus. During a police interview, he admitted that his interest in viewing such material was driven by boredom, a statement that underscores the disturbing nature of his actions.

The court proceedings revealed that Thirkell had a prior criminal history related to child exploitation. In 2004, he was sentenced to a two-year community rehabilitation order after admitting to 12 charges of creating indecent photographs of children. Additionally, in 2000, he was fined £100 for kerb crawling, indicating a pattern of concerning behavior over the years.

At the hearing, Thirkell appeared in the dock dressed in a dark suit and tie, with his head bowed throughout most of the proceedings. His defense attorney, Thomas Nicholson-Pratt, argued that the small number of images involved was limited to a 25-minute period on a single date, suggesting a relatively brief episode of offending.

Judge Andrew Bright QC responded by imposing a three-year community order, which includes 36 months of supervision. The judge emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “Without people like you there would not be any of these images. If you let the probation service down, you will be locked up. You won’t be given another chance.”

Furthermore, Thirkell was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and was required to pay costs amounting to £1,200. The court’s decision underscores the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to society, despite the leniency of the community order.

In a related but earlier case from April 2004, Thirkell, then aged 32 and working as a manager at Woodbridge Furnishings in Shildon, near Darlington, admitted to accessing and downloading a staggering 2,480 images of child pornography on his work computer. The police investigation was initiated after employees at the Shildon branch reported suspicious activity, leading to the discovery of the illicit material. Thirkell, a former teacher at Spennymoor Comprehensive School, was the only individual with regular access to the computer used for these activities.

Testimony from a woman who interacted with Thirkell revealed that he had shown her images of dead bodies from road accidents and had inquired about her sex life, adding to the disturbing profile of his behavior. Initially, Thirkell denied any involvement with pornography or paedophile material, but Durham Police’s Computer Crime Unit confirmed the presence of the 2,480 images, all downloaded on September 8, 2002.

Thirkell’s criminal record also includes a previous conviction from November 2000, when he was fined £100 and ordered to pay £25 costs after appearing before Teesside Magistrates for soliciting.

During sentencing, Judge Leslie Spittle highlighted the gravity of Thirkell’s offenses, emphasizing that the images involved real children and that such material is only produced through heinous acts against minors. Thirkell was sentenced to two years of Community Rehabilitation and ordered to register as a sex offender for five years. The court also ordered the forfeiture of his computer, aiming to prevent further access to such material and to protect the community from future harm.