CHRISTOPHER DAVIS AND TIMOTHY DAVIS SHOCK SOLIHULL WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CRIME

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Solihull, two brothers with long-standing careers in education were found guilty of possessing and creating child pornography. The case, which unfolded at Warwick Crown Court, revealed the extent of their depravity and the breach of trust they committed while working with vulnerable children.

Christopher Davis, aged 43, who served as the deputy headteacher at St Patrick's Church of England Junior and Infant School in Solihull, was convicted of possessing over 11,700 indecent images of children. The court heard that Davis had downloaded numerous images from the internet, including explicit material involving adults and minors. Among the most disturbing aspects of his crimes was the fact that he had taken photographs of pupils under his care, capturing them in compromising positions. These images included children bending over or adjusting their underwear, with some being zoomed in on inappropriately.

Further examination of Davis's computer revealed that some images had been manipulated using Photoshop, with offensive captions such as "strip bitch" and "slut" superimposed over pictures of children. The court was told that Davis had a total of more than 11,700 indecent images, which he admitted to possessing. His actions led to a sentence of 14 months in prison, along with a requirement to register as a sex offender and a sexual offences prevention order that will remain in effect for ten years.

Adding to the gravity of the case, last month Timothy Davis, aged 38, Christopher's brother, was also convicted. Timothy, who was a teacher at Monkspath Junior and Infants School near Solihull, received a community sentence after admitting to four charges related to the creation of indecent images. The brothers were arrested last summer after police discovered child pornography on a computer located at their shared residence with their mother.

During the police investigation, an officer observed that one of the computers was active, and it did not take long to find explicit images of females downloaded from a Japanese website. When questioned, Christopher Davis responded dismissively, claiming, "Ah yes, but they're legal, aren't they?" His computer was subsequently examined, revealing thousands of indecent images, most of which had been downloaded from the internet. The investigation uncovered that some images were taken covertly at the school where Davis worked, with photographs showing children in various states of undress, including changing clothes or adjusting their uniforms.

Some of these images were not inherently indecent but had been altered with captions such as "strip bitch," "tight bum," and "slut," representing a gross breach of trust and a violation of the children's privacy. The court also heard about footage filmed covertly in classrooms, capturing children during art lessons and while changing for sports, with zoomed-in shots of girls as they adjusted their dresses or underwear. The images included girls around ten years old, some naked from the waist up, and others changing during school outings.

In total, the evidence included approximately 11,000 still images and numerous videos depicting children engaged in sexual acts, being humiliated, or made to strip. Some of these images dated back as far as 1994, illustrating a long history of offending. The material also contained explicit content involving adults and children, including scenes of sexual touching, with some children between the ages of nine and 16 being made to strip, humiliated, and spanked.

Legal representatives for Christopher Davis, Michael Duck QC, argued that his client recognized his problem and needed help, emphasizing that he had not distributed any of the images nor engaged in physical contact with children. The defense highlighted that Davis had been a teacher for over 20 years and that his actions were confined to possession and creation of images.

Judge Richard Griffith-Jones addressed the court, stressing the importance of public confidence in the safety of children in schools. He condemned the breach of trust and the exploitation involved, emphasizing that such crimes damage the community's faith in educators. The judge pointed out that children in the care of teachers like Davis are particularly vulnerable, and the images taken of them are a grotesque violation of their innocence.

As part of his sentence, Christopher Davis was prohibited from working in any capacity involving children in schools, colleges, or voluntary organizations. He was also banned from possessing non-commercial images of children. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Solihull, raising serious concerns about safeguarding and the need for vigilance against such heinous crimes.