CALUM FAIRCLAUGH CAUGHT IN NETHERTON WITH CHILD PORN AND BLACKMAIL PLOTS

In August 2023, a disturbing case emerged involving Calum Fairclough, a 26-year-old man from Netherton, who engaged in heinous online activities targeting minors. The investigation revealed that Fairclough had been actively involved in the possession and creation of illegal images of children, as well as attempting to blackmail a young girl he believed to be 12 years old.

Fairclough’s criminal conduct came to light after he attempted to lure what he thought was a 12-year-old girl into sending him explicit images. Using the online pseudonym “Mistressmeg2000,” he initiated contact with the decoy profile, which was actually operated by undercover police officers. During their interaction, he asked the girl to send pictures of her breasts and offered to help her explore her preferences between boys and girls. When she refused to comply, Fairclough issued threats to post her images publicly on the internet and to send them to her mother, aiming to intimidate her into submission.

The police investigation uncovered a disturbing cache of illegal material stored on Fairclough’s devices. On June 28, 2021, officers executed a search warrant at his residence on Quigley Avenue in Netherton. During the search, his mobile phone and iPad were seized, revealing a total of 289 illegal images and videos depicting children, some classified as the most serious Category A. Among these were 243 indecent images of a teenage girl known to Fairclough, stored within a seemingly innocuous calculator app, which had a hidden “secret vault” feature used to conceal such illicit content. Additionally, 64 images and videos were found on his iPad.

The investigation further revealed that Fairclough had made contact with the girl via Snapchat, where he persistently badgered her for explicit pictures. Prosecutor Daniel Travers explained that Fairclough had explicitly asked her to send images of her body, and when she initially refused, he pressured her to do so immediately. The girl was distressed by his demands and eventually sent videos of her entire body. Fairclough responded by sending her videos of himself performing sexual acts, which made her feel uncomfortable and upset. Despite her discomfort, he continued to insist, claiming he was comfortable with the situation.

Fairclough’s actions led to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent photographs of children, possession of such images, two counts of taking indecent photographs (categories A and C), attempted blackmail, attempted sexual communication with a minor, and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act. His court appearance at Liverpool Crown Court saw him plead guilty to all charges.

Judge Eric Lamb sentenced Fairclough to four years in prison. In his remarks, the judge highlighted the significant risk Fairclough posed to children, noting that he was at medium risk of reoffending but posed a high risk of causing substantial harm. The court also ordered a multi-agency approach to monitor and support Fairclough’s rehabilitation, aiming to prevent future offending and protect potential victims from harm.