ANDREW WALDER FROM BRIERLEY HILL JAILED IN TROWBRIDGE FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Andrew Walder, a resident of Brierley Hill, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the possession and creation of a vast collection of child abuse images. The 42-year-old, who was at the time living in Trowbridge under bail conditions, was found to have downloaded nearly 196,000 indecent photographs and videos depicting children engaged in sexual acts, a revelation that has sent ripples through both the local and wider communities.

Walder, a married man and father of one, was arrested following an international police operation that originated in Germany. The investigation uncovered his extensive online activity related to child pornography, which he had meticulously organized and stored on his computer equipment. The police found that his collection was not only large but also carefully categorized, indicating a deliberate effort to maintain and possibly share this illicit material.

During his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge John Wait addressed Walder directly, emphasizing the severity of his actions. The judge stated that every single image in Walder’s collection was a record of a child being abused, highlighting the heinous nature of his crimes. Despite Walder’s reputation as a churchgoer and charity worker, the judge pointed out that his good deeds concealed a disturbing obsession with sexual perversion involving children. The court was told that Walder’s interest in such material was not incidental but deeply rooted, with the images and videos showing children being subjected to vile acts.

The judge further explained that Walder’s activities contributed to a criminal industry that exploits children for profit. He condemned the individuals responsible for producing these images, stating that they cruelly exploit and humiliate children, often torturing them for financial gain. The court heard that Walder’s collection included 193,392 indecent images, with 8,397 classified as the most serious category, and 2,579 movies, including 865 in the worst categories. These figures underscore the extent of his involvement in this depraved activity.

Walder admitted to 13 charges related to making indecent images of children and two charges of possessing such material. He claimed that he had purchased computer equipment at a car boot sale approximately eight or nine months prior to his arrest and that he had only then discovered the illicit images. However, the prosecution’s evidence revealed that some of the material dated back to 2005, indicating a much longer history of offending.

Defense lawyer Simon Hanns described Walder as a man who was deeply ashamed and embarrassed by his actions. He acknowledged that Walder’s conduct was wholly appalling but also highlighted his client’s previous good character and his participation in a humanitarian mission to Bosnia during times of conflict. Hanns suggested that Walder’s obsession with child pornography had taken hold of him, leading to his current predicament.

In addition to his prison sentence, Walder was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, be subject to an unlimited Sex Offenders Protection Order, and was permanently barred from working with children. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing concern for public safety and child protection.