CHARLES WOOD FROM PAIGNTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN TORQUAY AND EXETER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Paignton, Charles Wood, a resident of St Michael's Road, was found guilty of possessing an extensive collection of child pornography material. The investigation revealed that Wood had accumulated over 20,000 images and videos depicting minors in explicit and indecent situations, a discovery that prompted serious legal action.

Wood, aged 55, faced multiple charges related to the possession and creation of indecent photographs and videos of children. His charges included ten counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing such images, all committed between March and November of 2012. The case was brought before Torbay Magistrates' Court on Thursday, May 30, where Wood pleaded guilty to the allegations.

During the court proceedings, it was detailed that Wood owned a significant number of images categorized by severity: 672 images at level one, 13 at level two, 63 at level three, 61 at level four, and four at level five. In addition to these photographs, Wood possessed approximately 500 videos ranging from level one to level five, along with an unquantified collection of 2,800 uncategorized movies and 17,000 uncategorized photographs of children. The sheer volume of material underscored the gravity of his offenses.

Magistrates emphasized the seriousness of the case, informing Wood that such offenses are beyond their jurisdiction and must be dealt with by the Crown Court. Subsequently, Wood appeared before Exeter Crown Court on June 26, where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison, a sentence that was suspended for two years. The court also imposed a two-year supervision order, which includes strict conditions aimed at monitoring and restricting his activities.

As part of his sentence, Wood is required to attend 45 sessions of a specialized sex offenders rehabilitation program and pay a victim surcharge of £100. Additionally, he will be mandated to register as a sex offender, a measure designed to protect the community and ensure ongoing monitoring of his behavior. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and judicial authorities in Torbay and Exeter to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, emphasizing the importance of accountability and community safety.