CHRISTOPHER COURT'S SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN CHIPPEHAM AND SWINDON

In a series of disturbing criminal cases, Christopher Court, a resident of Chippenham, has been at the center of serious allegations involving child abuse and possession of indecent images. His criminal activities span several years, with multiple convictions and legal proceedings revealing a disturbing pattern of behavior.

In April 2015, Court's sentence for his heinous crimes was reduced by the Court of Appeal from an initial 14 years to 12 years. The judges acknowledged the gravity of his offenses but deemed the original sentence 'manifestly excessive.' Mr. Justice Nicol, one of the presiding judges, emphasized that although the offenses were serious, the punishment initially handed down was outside the appropriate range. Despite the reduction, Court will serve a minimum of eight years before being eligible for release, with an extended five-year license period to monitor his conduct post-release.

The criminal case against Court was initiated after a tip-off from the United States Department of Homeland Security in 2012. US authorities linked a British email account, registered to Court, to a series of child pornography offenses. Following this intelligence, police executed a search warrant at his residence on Oate Hill, Chippenham. During the search, officers discovered multiple computers, storage devices, and smartphones, all containing hundreds of images depicting child abuse. Some of these images showed Court engaging in sexual acts with a child, providing concrete evidence of actual abuse.

Court admitted to eight counts related to child pornography, as well as allegations of assault on a girl under 13 years old. He claimed that his interest in pornography began during his teenage years but escalated to illegal material after he suffered a head injury in an accident. His defense argued that his sentence was excessively harsh, but the court maintained that his actions were grave and that he posed a significant risk to children.

In a separate but related case, Court, then aged 33, was sentenced in November 2014 to 14 years in prison for taking explicit photographs of himself while sexually abusing a girl under ten. The authorities also imposed a five-year extended license, citing the risk of future harm. Police in America had initially identified Court through online activity, where he distributed indecent images and made disturbing comments about harming children. This information was relayed to Wiltshire police, leading to the raid on his Chippenham home.

During the police investigation, officers found three computers, storage media, and smartphones containing indecent images of children. Court initially denied any physical contact with children, stating, 'I want to make it clear I have not touched any child,' but the evidence contradicted his claims. The devices revealed searches for similar illegal material, and subsequent searches of his phone confirmed ongoing interest in child abuse images.

In court, Court pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including four counts of sexual assault, three of sexual activity with a child, and eight of making, possessing, or distributing indecent images. His defense acknowledged his awareness of the severity of his actions and his past attempts to seek help through charities, which he could not afford to pursue fully. The judge, Recorder Peter Towler, described him as a high risk of serious harm to children and sentenced him to 14 years in prison, with two-thirds to be served before parole eligibility. Post-release, Court will be under supervision and must register as a sex offender for life.

These cases highlight the disturbing extent of Christopher Court’s criminal behavior in Chippenham and the serious legal consequences he faces. The community remains vigilant as authorities continue efforts to monitor and prevent such heinous crimes against children.