CUMBRIAN MAN ALLAN PULLAR SENTENCED IN WORKINGTON FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ABUSE

In April 2010, Allan Melvin Pullar, a 35-year-old resident of Udale Court in Workington, was sentenced to four years in prison by Carlisle Crown Court for crimes involving a young girl and child pornography.

The court was informed that Pullar had an inappropriate sexual interest in minors and had groomed a girl for his own sexual purposes. On October 23 of the previous year, Pullar pleaded guilty to taking three indecent photographs of the girl—two when she was 12 years old and one when she was 15. He also admitted to possessing pornographic images of children that police found on his personal computer during a search at his home in September.

The images found on his devices included two classified as level four—close to the most serious level of five—along with other images and videos rated as level three. The photographs he took of the girl were initially deemed level one, but it was later revealed that Pullar had also indecently assaulted her when she was 14.

Pullar appeared in court for sentencing on all charges. Judge Peter Hughes QC remarked, “You acted in a wholly indecent manner towards her and took away part of her adolescence. You groomed her, distorting her view of sexual matters to get her to do what you wanted to do.”

During the investigation, police had visited Pullar’s home to look into the allegations. They seized a laptop, CDs, and a floppy disc. The floppy disc contained the photographs of the girl taken by Pullar, while the laptop held downloaded child pornography, including some classified as level four.

Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone stated, “Police also discovered that the defendant was chatting online with girls aged 12 to 17 in an inappropriate and sexual manner. He offered them free mobile phone credit so that they would text him.”

In October, Pullar admitted to the charges related to the photographs. Following further police investigation, he disclosed details of the indecent assault during a psychiatric assessment, leading to additional charges.

Pullar’s defense lawyer, Allison Whalley, told the court, “He has pleaded guilty and says that he does accept the offences and is very sorry.” She described Pullar as a man with a previously good character who had been remanded in custody since August 14, 2009, stating, “That has to have been a short, sharp shock.”

As part of his sentence, Pullar was ordered to serve four years in prison. Additionally, he will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, prohibiting contact with children and barring him from working with minors. He has been placed on the sex offenders register and will face an extended period on licence upon release.