ANDREW TAYLOR KIDDERMINSTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENDER ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE POLICE DELAY

In a case that highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in handling digital evidence, Andrew Taylor, a 43-year-old resident of Kidderminster, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after a significant delay in the police investigation process. The case, which unfolded in Worcestershire, saw Taylor initially convicted of possessing indecent images of children, but the severity of his punishment was ultimately reduced due to procedural issues.

In March 2010, Taylor's case was brought before Worcester Crown Court, where Recorder Christopher Donnellan QC addressed the complexities involved in analyzing digital evidence. The court acknowledged that the police's high-tech unit was overwhelmed with cases, which contributed to a delay in examining the computer disk containing the illicit images. This delay proved pivotal in the outcome of Taylor’s sentencing.

Previously, Taylor had been arrested at his home on Chester Road North in Kidderminster in February 2008. Following his arrest, he was initially sentenced to a three-year community order by Kidderminster magistrates in August of the same year. This order included requirements such as signing the sex offenders' register for seven years and adhering to a five-year sexual offences prevention order. Prosecutor David Swinnerton confirmed that Taylor's first community order was part of the initial legal response to his possession of indecent images.

However, the case took a turn when, 14 months after the initial sentencing, police re-examined a disk retrieved from Taylor’s computer. This re-investigation uncovered an additional 23 indecent images, which had not been identified during the first analysis. As a result, Taylor pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images, and magistrates subsequently imposed a 22-week prison sentence.

During the appeal hearing, Taylor’s defense lawyer, Adam Western, argued that the magistrates would have maintained the original community order had they been aware of the full extent of the evidence. He emphasized that the delay was largely due to the police high-tech unit’s workload, which hindered timely analysis of digital evidence. Ultimately, Recorder Donnellan QC decided to quash the prison sentence and replace it with a three-year community order. Additionally, Taylor was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for seven years and comply with the sexual offences prevention order.

Despite the initial severity of the sentence, the court’s decision reflects ongoing concerns about resource limitations and procedural delays in cases involving digital evidence, especially those related to child exploitation.