CARL RAE FROM WARRINGTON BACK BEHIND BARS FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In a disturbing development, Carl Rae, a man with a troubling criminal history from Warrington, has been remanded into custody once again after authorities uncovered a significant collection of indecent images of children on his personal devices. The investigation revealed that Rae, who resides on Poplars Avenue, had downloaded a total of 359 such images onto his laptop, raising serious concerns about his ongoing engagement with illegal material.

Law enforcement officials, acting on intelligence gathered in 2012, conducted a search of Rae’s property and seized his laptop. During the examination, officers discovered not only the extensive collection of images but also evidence that Rae had been actively deleting his internet browsing history using specialized software, likely in an attempt to conceal his activities. This behavior underscores a deliberate effort to hide his illicit interests from detection.

The case was brought before Warrington Crown Court, where the court heard that the majority of the images fell into the lowest category of offending, indicating they depicted less severe forms of child exploitation. However, the presiding judge, Nicholas Woodward, expressed particular concern over one image classified in the highest category of severity, which he described as 'causing some concern.' The presence of such material heightened the seriousness of Rae’s offenses.

Rae, aged 39, was already serving a prison sentence after being convicted in October 2003 for attempted rape and attempted indecent assault involving a 16-year-old girl. His original sentence was 11 years, and he was released on license, meaning he was still under supervision at the time of his latest arrest.

Prosecutor Peter Hussey outlined that the police’s investigation, which began in 2012, led to the seizure of Rae’s laptop. The forensic analysis revealed that Rae had been collecting these illicit images since 2009, with victims ranging in age from as young as six or seven up to 16 years old. The evidence pointed to a pattern of ongoing criminal activity spanning several years.

In sentencing, Judge Woodward imposed a prison term of 16 months on Rae. During his remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of Rae’s actions, especially considering his previous convictions. He stated, “One of the images is very concerning having regard to the fact your previous convictions are for attacking young girls who were total strangers to you. You quite deliberately went about obtaining these images and must have known it was a serious matter.”

Rae’s re-arrest and subsequent imprisonment highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and the importance of monitoring individuals with prior convictions for such offenses. His case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by individuals who seek to exploit children through digital means, even after serving time for similar crimes.