Middlewich man avoids jail for amassing thousands of indecent images and animal sex abuse videos

MIDDLEWICH MAN AVOIDS JAIL FOR AMASSING THOUSANDS OF INDECENT IMAGES AND ANIMAL SEX ABUSE VIDEOS

A man from Middlewich named Andrew Oakes, residing on Whitley Close, was convicted of accumulating a significant collection of indecent images and videos of children.

Police carried out a search at his residence on Sunday, January 5, during which they confiscated his phone and computer devices.

Examination of these devices uncovered a disturbing total of 3,891 indecent images and videos of minors, including seven classified as the most severe Category A, and 3,884 in Category C.

Law enforcement also found 1,206 highly explicit images and videos featuring bestiality.

The 45-year-old was brought before Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, December 3, where he faced charges of three counts of creating indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child and one count related to possessing extreme pornography involving animals.

Oakes admitted to these charges; the collection dates from August 2015 to January 2025.

He pleaded guilty, and the case was adjourned to prepare a pre-sentence report.

On December 17, Oakes was sentenced to a 12-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and mandated to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Detective Constable Corinne Kinvig of Cheshire Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team highlighted the gravity of such material, stating, “Each image represents a vulnerable victim, whether child or animal, suffering at the hands of an abuser.

We are committed to tracking down individuals involved in downloading these disturbing images to bring them to justice.”