ANDREW FAULKNER'S SHOCKING AMMUNITION AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL IN WALSGRAVE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Walsgrave, police uncovered a cache of illegal ammunition at the residence of Andrew Faulkner, a man previously linked to the possession of indecent images of children. The investigation was triggered by online activity linked to Faulkner, revealing a troubling pattern of criminal behavior that spanned several years.

According to court records, Faulkner, who was residing on Shillingstone Close at the time, was already under a sexual offences prevention order issued in 2009. This order was a consequence of his earlier conviction for possessing indecent images of children. Despite this legal restriction, Faulkner continued to access and download such illicit material, which ultimately led to further charges.

The case came before Warwick Crown Court, where Faulkner, aged 44, pleaded guilty to multiple serious offenses. These included possession of illegal expanding ammunition, possession of ammunition without a valid firearms certificate, possession of indecent images of children, and breaching the terms of his sexual offences prevention order. The court heard that Faulkner’s actions represented a blatant disregard for the restrictions placed upon him.

In sentencing, the judge, Marten Coates, acknowledged the gravity of the offenses. Faulkner was sentenced to four months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years. This decision was influenced by the fact that Faulkner had already spent nearly three months in custody on remand, effectively serving most of the sentence prior to sentencing. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of seven years.

Further details emerged during the court proceedings, revealing that the investigation was initiated after West Midlands Police’s child protection unit received a tip-off via Facebook. An account under the name Helen Barnes was uploading indecent images, prompting authorities to act swiftly. Police seized multiple electronic devices from Faulkner’s home, including laptops and mobile phones. The mobile phone contained a total of 77 indecent images of children, categorized across five levels of seriousness, with the majority being at the lowest level. Officers also discovered indecent photographs of children hidden within a car manual stored in the garage.

While the investigation was ongoing, Faulkner’s laptop was still under examination, and authorities anticipated discovering additional images. However, the prosecutor, Neil Bannister, stated that no further action was planned at that stage regarding the images. The police also uncovered a significant quantity of illegal ammunition during their search of Faulkner’s property. This included 17 expanding .308 rifle cartridges, one .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, and six other rifle cartridges, all of which are illegal without proper authorization.

The court was informed that Faulkner had previously been subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which explicitly prohibited him from accessing the internet to obtain or view images of children. This order was imposed in October 2009, following his earlier conviction, and was accompanied by a 12-month suspended prison sentence for similar offenses. Despite these restrictions, Faulkner had retained and apparently continued to possess ammunition, which raised serious concerns.

Jennifer Josephs, representing Faulkner, argued that her client had been an active member of a shooting club before his firearms certificate was revoked. She emphasized that Faulkner should not have retained the ammunition and suggested that his involvement in shooting activities was a past hobby. However, the judge was clearly unimpressed with Faulkner’s repeated violations. Judge Marten Coates expressed his bewilderment at Faulkner’s failure to adhere to court orders, stating, “I am quite mystified that, having been before the courts and had your warning, you have committed the offence again.”

He further remarked that if Faulkner had not already served nearly five months in custody, he might have faced a custodial sentence. The case underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in tackling individuals who flout legal restrictions designed to protect vulnerable children and prevent illegal firearm possession.