ALISTAIR ARMITAGE FROM CASTLEFORD AND LEEDS EXPOSED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Castleford and Leeds, Alistair Armitage was brought to justice after a partner’s accidental discovery revealed his involvement in possessing a large collection of indecent images of children. The incident unfolded at their home in Garforth, where Juliette Richardson, Armitage’s partner, noticed suspicious content on his tablet device. Concerned by what she saw, she promptly contacted the police, leading to a detailed investigation that uncovered the extent of Armitage’s illicit activities.

On December 3 of the previous year, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence. During the search, they discovered a laptop computer hidden beneath a mattress in the attic space. The device contained a significant number of indecent images, further confirming Armitage’s involvement in the illegal collection. In addition to digital evidence, police found a pair of women’s knickers, which Armitage had stolen from a washing basket at a friend’s house, adding a disturbing element to the case.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie explained that Armitage showed a surprising reaction during his arrest, expressing relief to the officers. The investigation revealed that Armitage had conducted internet searches specifically for indecent images of children. Some of these images were obtained through peer-to-peer sharing websites, indicating a deliberate effort to access and download such material. During police interviews, Armitage admitted to downloading or acquiring the images but claimed he did not derive sexual gratification from them, a statement that did little to mitigate the severity of his actions.

Alistair Armitage, who is now residing on Queen Street in Castleford, has no prior criminal record. He pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent images of children, with the offenses spanning from 2011 to 2013. Additionally, he admitted to the theft of the knickers. The images found were primarily of young girls who appeared to be under ten years old. Most of the images were classified as Category ‘C’, indicating they were still images of the least serious nature, but the collection also included two videos, one of which was categorized as Category ‘B’, indicating a higher level of severity.

During the court proceedings, defense counsel Christopher Moran attempted to mitigate the sentence, highlighting Armitage’s own words upon arrest: “It’s a relief actually.” Despite this, the judge, Neil Clark, made it clear that possessing such images is a profoundly serious and disturbing offense. The judge emphasized that the children depicted in the images had no choice in their situations and that such material is inherently harmful.

As a result, Armitage was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes supervision and a high-level 50-day activity requirement aimed at rehabilitation. Furthermore, an indefinite sexual offences prevention order was imposed, prohibiting Armitage from owning any internet-enabled device on which he could delete search histories, thereby preventing further access to such material. His name will also be entered onto the sex offender register for a period of seven years, ensuring ongoing monitoring and public safety.