ASHLEY WARNER FROM PLYMOUTH CAUGHT IN CHILD SEXUAL IMAGE SCANDAL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Plymouth, Ashley Warner, aged 19, has been found guilty of serious offenses involving the exploitation and abuse of a minor. The court heard that Warner engaged in a series of criminal acts between July 15 and September 9, 2008, targeting a 15-year-old girl with special needs, specifically Asperger’s syndrome.

According to court records, Warner not only encouraged the young girl to strip and perform sexual acts on her webcam but also secretly recorded her during these acts. These recordings included explicit images and videos, some of which were made without her knowledge or consent. The case revealed that Warner’s actions extended beyond the initial incident, involving multiple instances of child exploitation over a span of more than three years.

Warner pleaded guilty to 14 separate charges related to the creation and distribution of indecent images of children. These charges covered a period from August 29, 2005, to October 23, 2008. The images and videos seized by authorities included a total of 862 still images, 594 screen captures, and 20 videos classified at level one severity. Additionally, there were 16 still images, 231 screen captures, and 20 videos at level two, along with two images at level three, and nine images and eight videos at the most serious level four. The categorization of these images ranged from level one to five, with level five representing the most severe offenses.

Prosecutor Kelly Scrivener explained that some of the images involved the girl in question, and notably, some had been recorded without her knowledge. The police investigation was initiated after the mother of the 15-year-old girl, who has Asperger’s syndrome, filed a complaint on September 9, 2008. The mother revealed that Warner had initially contacted her daughter when she was just 11 years old and had re-established contact during the summer of 2008 through mobile phone and internet communications.

It was further disclosed that Warner and the girl had developed a romantic relationship, with Warner, then 18, encouraging her to perform sexual acts on her webcam. The girl, although reluctant, complied with his requests on multiple occasions, refusing only to meet him in person naked. The court heard that Warner’s actions were part of a disturbing pattern of grooming and exploitation.

Following the investigation, police arrested Warner and seized his computer equipment. Despite the evidence, Warner chose to remain silent during police interviews, offering no comment. The authorities found hundreds of images depicting child abuse on his computer tower and on various disks, underscoring the extent of his involvement in the illegal activities.

Representing Warner, lawyer Jason Beal, highlighted that his client came from a stable family background, had achieved five GCSEs and an A-level, and had previously worked as a hospital cleaner. Despite these facts, the judge, the Hon Mr Justice Field, expressed concern about Warner’s recent behavior, stating, “Something has gone wrong in your life. A dark side has developed in the last two or three years.”

The judge emphasized the gravity of the crimes, noting the public concern over the abuse of children to produce internet pornography. However, in a decision that reflected a cautious approach, he suspended Warner’s 12-month prison sentence for two years, provided he complies with certain conditions. Warner was ordered to undergo assessments for sex offender treatment programs, to be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order until further notice, and to remain on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding online child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable minors.