CARL WOOD OF CLEVEDON ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE CHILD ABUSE IMAGE CHARGES IN NORTH SOMERSET

In a case that has shocked the community of Clevedon, Carl Wood, a former sports development officer, was handed a community punishment order after admitting to possessing and seeking indecent images of young boys. The incident, which came to light in February 2006, revealed disturbing details about Wood’s activities while holding a trusted position within North Somerset Council.

Wood, aged 37 and residing on West Croft in Clevedon, appeared before Bristol Crown Court to face charges related to the possession and creation of indecent photographs of children. He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of making such images, which included photographs of boys aged around nine or ten. The court heard that Wood had a history of working closely with children, notably as a swimming coach and a community fundraiser, roles that made his actions particularly alarming given the trust placed in him.

Judge Susan Darwall-Smith, presiding over the case, sentenced Wood to a community punishment order that requires him to complete up to 240 hours of unpaid work. She emphasized the gravity of his offenses, stating, “Children’s lives are irrevocably damaged because there is a market for the sale of images such as the ones on your computer. It makes it very much more serious that you were prepared to view the images, bearing in mind your job.”

Furthermore, the judge imposed a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which bans Wood from working or having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16. The order also prohibits him from using the internet to download child pornography or communicate with minors. Additionally, Wood was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of five years, a measure aimed at monitoring his activities and preventing further offenses.

Prosecutor Rosaleen Collins provided insight into Wood’s current employment status, revealing that he is now unemployed. However, during his tenure as a sports development officer, he was involved in initiatives aimed at safeguarding children involved in sports. She explained, “He was also involved in the management of the Amateur Swimming Association and had traveled internationally with the British youth team.”

The case took a disturbing turn when authorities discovered that someone had accessed a file on Wood’s home computer containing between 30 and 40 indecent images, including one of a young boy aged nine or ten. The matter was reported to the NSPCC, which alerted police authorities. A subsequent search of Wood’s residence uncovered further indecent material, confirming his interest in paedophile content and boys specifically.

Investigations revealed that Wood had set up two email accounts through which he communicated with children, falsely claiming to be a child himself. He also exchanged indecent images, including sending pictures of a young girl to a young boy, attempting to persuade the boy to send similar images back. Initially, Wood refused to comment when questioned by police but later claimed that he had received unsolicited material from a man in Tenerife.

Defense lawyer Charles Row argued that Wood’s professional responsibilities were entirely unrelated to his criminal activities. He highlighted that Wood had managed to secure approximately GBP7 million in Lottery funding for local sports projects and had raised GBP15,000 to support the Child Safe initiative. Row also emphasized Wood’s achievements as a swimming coach, including coordinating team preparations for the Athens Olympics and coaching senior disabled swimmers to championship levels.

He expressed regret over the situation, stating, “It’s a tragedy someone who has put so much into the community should find himself in this position, and he realises he will be sentenced accordingly.” Row also noted that Wood believed his research into indecent images was part of his professional duties and cited a probation officer’s assessment that his risk of reoffending was only about five percent.

Detective Constable Cameron McConnell, leading the investigation, commented on the case, saying, “He put himself in a position of trust with children at the same time as gratifying himself with pictures of young boys. We are very grateful to all of the people that assisted us in our enquiries. Mr. Wood is still in denial. I agree with the sentence and the SOPO will prevent him from committing hands-on offences.”

North Somerset Council’s spokesperson, Richard Turner, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to child protection, stating, “We have vigorous vetting procedures and all our staff must undergo thorough background checks before they are appointed. The checking procedures in the case of Carl Wood were carried out to the letter and there was nothing in his previous history to lead anyone to question his suitability for employment.”