ANDREW WADDELL OF NETHERTON ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE SHARING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
In July 2014, a computer expert from Netherton was convicted of sharing a disturbing collection of child abuse images online with other offenders but was spared jail time.At Wolverhampton Crown Court, 61-year-old Andrew Waddell-Tillbrook was described by Judge Phillip Parker QC as having his "utterly repellent" behavior ruin his previously blameless life.
The judge noted that Waddell-Tillbrook had engaged in conversations with other online predators about his interest in children and that he was "turned on" by the abuse of minors.
The judge commented, "Your perverted secret world was discovered when you were arrested.
Your wife learned for the first time what you had been doing behind her back." Waddell-Tillbrook, of Park Road, admitted to ten charges related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.
He was sentenced to three years of supervision, banned from working with children, and placed under a five-year Sexual Offenders Protection Order.
Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender for the next five years.
Tom Walkling, representing Waddell-Tillbrook, argued that his client, a man of previously good character, was open to rehabilitation.
He told the court, "Rather than sending him into custody for a short sentence, it is in the public's best interest that he receives treatment to prevent any future offending." Mr.
Walkling also highlighted that Waddell-Tillbrook recognized his problem and had maintained a clean record for three years following the offences.
Prosecutor Laura Culley explained that police officers seized Waddell-Tillbrook’s computer, which contained 1,174 indecent images of children and six pornographic films.
The images varied from low to the most severe Category Five grade, and some were made available for sharing.
She added that individuals with similar interests would ask Waddell-Tillbrook for passwords to access the sites, enabling them to share this explicit material.
As a condition of his supervision, Waddell-Tillbrook was ordered to attend the Sex Offenders Rehabilitation Programme.
