HOLMFIRTH MAN CHRISTOPHER COONAN SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN LEEDS

In a case that has shocked the community of Holmfirth, Christopher Coonan, aged 31, faced justice at Leeds Crown Court after being found guilty of possessing a significant number of indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about the nature of the images and the circumstances surrounding their discovery.

It was in April 2011 that Coonan’s then-girlfriend came across some images on his computer at their residence. Although she initially found the images to be not explicitly indecent, her concerns prompted further investigation. The police were subsequently involved, and a thorough search of Coonan’s former home on Victoria Street in Holmfirth uncovered a total of 108 indecent images and videos depicting children in various states of abuse.

Following the discovery, Coonan was charged with 11 counts of making indecent images of children. During the court proceedings, he pleaded guilty to the charges. The prosecution highlighted that Coonan had taken steps to secure his computer, ensuring that the images could not be distributed further, and he had cooperated fully with probation services, which was considered in his favor.

Judge Neil Clark addressed Coonan directly, condemning his actions as “truly disgusting” and emphasizing the severity of the crimes. The judge stated, “Children in those images were being abused and will have suffered physically and mentally.” He further pointed out that Coonan’s apparent enjoyment of viewing the abuse made the case even more troubling.

Despite acknowledging Coonan’s cooperation, Judge Clark made it clear that the court’s primary concern was the harm inflicted on the victims and the motivation behind his actions. As part of his sentence, Coonan was ordered to serve a three-year community and supervision order, which includes a high level of activity requirements. Additionally, he will be listed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of seven years.

The judge issued a stern warning that should Coonan re-offend, he would face immediate custody, as no suspended sentence was granted. To conclude the hearing, Coonan was also ordered to pay costs amounting to £500, underscoring the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing efforts to prevent such offenses in the future.