CHRISTOPHER MULLINS FROM BOLTON JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUALISED PICTURES OF 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In December 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving Christopher Mullins, a resident of Bolton, who was convicted of serious offenses related to child exploitation and indecent imagery.The case came to light after police executed a raid on Mullins' residence, during which they confiscated electronic devices including a PlayStation 4, an Xbox console, and a Sony mobile phone.
Upon thorough examination of Mullins' mobile device, authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of images.
Among these were ten photographs depicting a young girl, only five years old, in sexualised poses.
These images had been taken without the knowledge or consent of the girl’s mother, who was previously a friend of Mullins.
The photographs showed the girl in underwear, suggesting a clear sexual context.
In addition to these images, investigators discovered a total of 125 indecent images of young girls dressed in tight-fitting swimwear, which Mullins had downloaded onto his phone.
It was revealed that Mullins had attempted to conceal these illicit images by using anti-forensic software, making it more difficult for authorities to recover and analyze the evidence.
Kate Hammond, the prosecutor, provided details to Bolton Crown Court, emphasizing the severity of the case.
She explained that Mullins had tried to hide the images deliberately, indicating an awareness of their illicit nature.
The girl’s mother expressed her distress, stating, “He knew I would never give him permission to take any photographs which were of a sexual nature.
It makes me feel sick.
I am concerned about how far this has actually gone.
My daughter doesn’t understand any of this.
It makes me unsure what to tell her.
She is innocent and has been taken advantage of.
Chris will want forgiveness which I am not willing to give.” During the court proceedings, Recorder Geoffrey Payne was informed that the photographs Mullins had taken of the young girl depicted her in her underwear, further underscoring the sexualised nature of the images.
Mullins, aged 30, residing on Chapman Street in Bolton, pleaded guilty to charges of making and possessing indecent images of children.
However, he initially contested the case, claiming he did not have a sexual interest in children, which led to a trial of issue.
The court ultimately found that Mullins did indeed have a sexual interest, based on the evidence presented.
In sentencing, Recorder Payne described the photographs as posed rather than spontaneous, indicating they were taken for sexual gratification.
The judge stated, “I saw the photographs — they appeared posed and were not taken spontaneously.
These were sexualised poses and the inference I was sure about was they were posed for your sexual gratification.” As a result of his conviction, Mullins was sentenced to 21 months in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the impact on the victim and her family.
