ANTHONY HILL FROM HULL CAUGHT WORKING AT MORRISONS JUST DAYS AFTER CHILD ABUSE CONVICTION
In a disturbing development that has shocked the local community in Hull, Anthony Hill, a 32-year-old man from Brough, was found working at a Morrisons supermarket on Welton Road just three days after being convicted of serious child abuse offences.Hill's conviction was secured at Hull Crown Court on the Monday prior, where it was revealed that he had been found with over 3,500 images of children engaged in sexual activities, along with numerous videos depicting abuse.
Despite this, Hill was seen on the shop floor of the Morrisons store in Mexborough on Thursday morning, a location approximately 60 miles from his home in Brough.
According to reports, Morrisons stated that they had not been informed of Hill’s recent conviction at the time he was employed there.
It was only after Hull Live contacted the store that Hill was suspended from his position at the Brough branch later that same Thursday afternoon.
The supermarket’s management took swift action to remove him from his duties, but the incident has raised serious questions about the vetting and monitoring procedures in place.
Grandmother Sarah Crombie, a resident of Brough, was among the community members who expressed her outrage after seeing Hill working in the store.
She recounted her shock upon recognizing him from the news coverage of his conviction.
Crombie, aged 43, told Hull Live, “It was definitely him.
He was on the shop floor.
I’m sickened he’s working there.
I take my granddaughter in there.
He shouldn’t be allowed to be near children.
He was on the shop floor.” She further criticized the severity of Hill’s sentence, stating that the five-year rehabilitation order handed down by the court was insufficient.
“He’s admitted guilt, so therefore he should not be given a lenient sentence,” she argued.
“He can’t change who he is.
He’s attracted to children, and that’s not going to change.
He’s enrolled in a five-year program, but what’s that going to do?
Children are at risk while he’s out on the streets.
He needs to be locked up.” Michelle Grafton, a 37-year-old mother of two from Brough, also voiced her concerns.
She expressed her shock that Hill was still permitted to work in a busy supermarket environment, especially one frequented by families.
“They have a duty of care to their customers, and he is a convicted sex offender who should be sacked and barred from the premises,” Grafton said.
“I will not be shopping there if he remains employed.
I’d rather go to Sainsbury’s or drive to the Co-op in Ferriby.” Details from Hull Crown Court revealed that Hill was arrested after plainclothes officers apprehended him at the Mexborough Morrisons store.
The authorities found on his devices a vast collection of indecent images and videos involving children younger than ten, which he had downloaded from peer-to-peer and torrent websites.
Prosecutor Stephen Welch confirmed that Hill had pleaded guilty to charges of making and possessing indecent images and videos.
As part of his sentence, Hill received a five-year community order, which includes ten rehabilitation sessions and over 31 monthly sessions with the Horizons team, aimed at addressing his offending behavior.
Community members and advocacy groups continue to debate the adequacy of the legal measures taken, but the incident has undeniably raised serious concerns about public safety and the responsibilities of retail establishments in safeguarding their customers, especially children, from known offenders.
