ROCHDALE PERVERT ARNOLD SANDILANDS SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE AND EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Rochdale, Arnold Sandilands, a 71-year-old man, has been sentenced to a total of four years in prison after admitting to serious criminal offenses involving child abuse and possession of extreme pornography. The court proceedings revealed the extent of Sandilands' criminal activities, which included the creation of a highly disturbing video depicting himself sexually abusing a baby girl.

Sandilands, who resides in Rochdale, was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child, a crime for which he received a four-year prison sentence. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to possessing over 8,000 indecent images of children, some of which were classified as level five, the most severe category involving sadistic depictions of minors up to 13 years old. The authorities also uncovered that Sandilands possessed extreme animal pornography on his home computer, further highlighting the disturbing nature of his offenses.

The police action was initiated when officers raided Sandilands' residence on Parkway, Rochdale, on April 12 of the previous year. During the search, they recovered a hard drive that Sandilands had attempted to conceal by hiding it in his pocket. This device contained the incriminating images and the video of the baby abuse. Prosecutor Joe Allman explained to the court that the hard drive contained highly disturbing material, including the most serious category of child abuse images.

Expert analysis of the seized computer equipment confirmed the presence of extreme pornography, adding to the gravity of the case. Defense lawyer Adam Roxborough acknowledged that Sandilands had no prior convictions and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, accepting responsibility for his actions. Roxborough also noted that Sandilands, who suffers from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, had struggled with his attraction to young females for some time. He suggested that the internet had played a significant role in his viewing of child abuse images, which he had started doing as a way to cope with his feelings, albeit in a highly illegal and immoral manner.

Judge Elliot Knopf addressed Sandilands directly during sentencing, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes. The judge stated, “You were arrested because you came to the attention of the police having accessed, by the use of your computer, indecent images and pornographic images of children. But what gave this matter an additional, very serious factor was that when police were examining the hard drive, they found an image of a baby… with an adult. That was you, and the filming was by you.”

Sandilands pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual activity with a child, which resulted in a four-year prison sentence. Furthermore, he admitted to 16 charges related to the making or possession of indecent images of children, three charges of possessing extreme pornography, and one charge of possessing an indecent photograph of a child. The judge sentenced him to 18 months in prison for each of these 20 charges, with all sentences to run concurrently with the four-year term. Additionally, Sandilands will be subject to a three-year extension order, during which his behavior will be closely monitored.

As part of his punishment, Sandilands will be registered on the sex offenders register for life, ensuring ongoing oversight of his activities. The case has left a lasting impact on the Rochdale community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need for strict enforcement of laws protecting children from exploitation and abuse.