ANDREW MONTGOMERY CAUGHT IN BOLTON WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Bolton, Andrew Montgomery, a 38-year-old care worker, was found to be involved in the possession and distribution of highly illegal and exploitative material involving children.The investigation was initiated after authorities in New Zealand tipped off their counterparts in England, alerting them to Montgomery’s online activities, which included storing files that depicted the sexual abuse of minors.
On May 29, 2020, police officers executed a search warrant at Montgomery’s residence on Hazelwood Avenue, Bolton.
The operation was part of a broader effort to dismantle a network of individuals involved in the distribution of child exploitation material.
During the search, Montgomery was arrested at the care home where he was employed, and his mobile phone was confiscated for forensic examination.
Analysis of Montgomery’s phone revealed a horrifying collection of illegal images and videos.
Authorities uncovered 43 Category A indecent images of children, which are classified as the most severe and disturbing, along with 56 Category B and 54 Category C images.
These files, all downloaded between March of the previous year and May of this year, included photographs of children as young as two years old.
Additionally, investigators found 38 images depicting extreme pornography involving animals such as horses and dogs, highlighting the depravity of the material stored on his device.
Further investigation revealed that Montgomery had uploaded a Category B and Category C indecent image of a girl approximately 10 years old to Snapchat on December 18, 2019.
This image was accessible to the public, raising concerns about the potential distribution of child abuse material.
Officers also discovered an application on his phone capable of copying and pasting faces onto different images, which Montgomery used to superimpose a child's face onto a Category C image, further demonstrating his manipulative and exploitative behavior.
Among the numerous images recovered, 17 depicted the same young girl, all either taken by Montgomery himself or sourced from social media platforms.
One video showed the girl performing a cartwheel, which Montgomery admitted to filming himself.
However, he denied any sexual interest in the girl or children in general, claiming his actions were not motivated by such intent.
During the court proceedings, Suzanne Hargreaves, representing Montgomery, stated that her client had pleaded guilty to six offences.
She emphasized that Montgomery, who has no prior criminal record, has been married for five years and is a father to a child, as well as having two adult stepchildren.
Hargreaves highlighted Montgomery’s employment as a carer for elderly individuals and his volunteer work at a local hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also conveyed Montgomery’s remorse, noting that he had been honest with his family about his offences.
His family, though devastated, remained supportive.
Hargreaves described him as being overwhelmed with guilt and regret for his actions.
In sentencing, Judge Graeme Smith addressed Montgomery directly, describing the gravity of his offences.
Montgomery was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time immediately but would be under supervision.
The judge also ordered him to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work and participate in 30 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his behavior.
Furthermore, Montgomery was placed under a sexual harm prevention order and was registered as a sex offender for the next 10 years.
Judge Smith emphasized the real suffering of the children depicted in the images, stating, “The children whose images you have been viewing are real children, somewhere in the world who are suffering abuse.
It goes on because there are people willing to view it.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight against child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to protect vulnerable minors from such heinous crimes.
