ANDREW ASBREY FROM BRANSHOLEME CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN HULL

In August 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Andrew Asbrey, a 42-year-old man from Bransholme, who was found to have downloaded and viewed indecent images of children. The incident drew significant attention from local authorities and the community, highlighting the ongoing issue of child exploitation and online abuse.

According to court reports, Asbrey engaged in a pattern of searching for highly inappropriate material, specifically targeting pre-teen children. His online activity included searching for terms such as ‘pre-teen hardcore,’ which indicated a disturbing interest in child pornography. He would download these images and videos onto his personal laptop at his residence on Clarondale, Bransholme. To conceal his illicit activities, Asbrey would delete the files after viewing them, attempting to erase any trace of his actions.

Authorities acted on intelligence that linked his internet usage to the possession of indecent images. On September 9, police executed a warrant at his home, seizing two laptops. A forensic examination of these devices uncovered a total of ten indecent images of children, along with two movies containing similar content. The police investigation revealed that Asbrey had been involved in this behavior over a period of approximately 28 months, from November 2011 through March 2014.

Prosecutor John Owston detailed the findings, stating that the evidence showed a clear pattern of ongoing offending. During police interviews, Asbrey admitted responsibility for all the images found on his devices. He explained that he initially started viewing adult pornography but stumbled upon child pornography during his online searches. Although he expressed feelings of shame and disgust about his actions, he acknowledged that he continued to view the illicit material.

At Hull Magistrates Court, Asbrey pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of a child. The court heard that his offending spanned over two years, with the behavior involving deliberate searching, downloading, and subsequent deletion of the material to avoid detection.

In sentencing, the magistrates imposed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period. Additionally, Asbrey was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community work. The court also issued a five-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting his activities and contact, and mandated that he register as a sex offender for five years. This case underscores the importance of vigilance and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation, especially within local communities like Bransholme and Hull.