ST AUSTELL PAEDOPHILE BARRY WALLING JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN TRURO

In a serious case that has once again cast a shadow over the town of St Austell, Barry Walling, a 46-year-old man with a troubling history, was sentenced to prison for possessing and creating indecent images of children. The court proceedings took place at Truro Crown Court, where the gravity of Walling’s actions was laid bare for the judge and the public to hear.

Walling’s criminal record is extensive, with previous convictions for indecent assault on minors. His past offenses led to a prison sentence in 2005, during which he was subjected to an extended sentence due to the severity of his crimes. Despite this, he continued to engage in illegal activities related to child exploitation, breaching the conditions of his release and resulting in his recall to prison. His current incarceration is set to last until at least May 2016, as per the court’s ruling.

On November 5, police officers visited Walling’s residence on Truro Road following suspicions that he possessed indecent images. During the search, they seized his laptop, which contained a disturbing collection of still photographs and videos depicting children as young as five years old. The evidence was damning, and Walling’s own statements during police interviews confirmed his awareness of his criminal history. He acknowledged previous convictions related to similar offenses and admitted to using software designed to conceal his identity while downloading the illicit material.

Walling denied any direct contact with other users of child pornography or children himself, claiming that his interest was solely in very young children. However, the evidence and his own admissions painted a different picture, indicating a troubling pattern of behavior and a sexual attraction that, as the judge noted, appears to be ingrained in his very nature.

Representing the Crown, Elaine Hobson highlighted the seriousness of the case, emphasizing that Walling’s actions and statements demonstrated a disturbing compulsion. The court heard that he was involved in creating and possessing images classified at various levels of severity, with the highest being level five on the police’s categorization scale. In total, Walling faced eight counts of making indecent images and seven counts of possessing both still images and videos.

Walling’s defense attorney, Ramsay Quaife, acknowledged his client’s cooperation during police interviews and his admissions regarding the offenses. Despite this, the court recognized the ongoing risk posed by Walling’s behavior and the deeply rooted nature of his sexual attraction to children.

Judge John Neligan sentenced Walling to 30 months in prison. Additionally, he ordered that Walling be subject to a lifelong sexual offences prevention order, a measure intended to prevent any future offenses and protect the community from further harm. This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and judicial authorities in addressing and managing individuals with such deeply ingrained criminal tendencies, especially in communities like St Austell where residents are now reminded of the persistent threat posed by offenders like Barry Walling.