CLIVE WALL'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN CARLISLE: PAEDOPHILE ESCAPES PRISON DESPITE REPEATED OFFENSES
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Carlisle, Clive Wall, a man with a disturbing history of sexual offenses involving children, narrowly avoided imprisonment after admitting to serious charges related to child exploitation and breaching court orders.The proceedings, held at Carlisle Crown Court, revealed a troubling pattern of behavior that has persisted despite previous convictions and court-mandated restrictions.
Wall, aged 44 and residing at Higginson Mill, Denton Holme, Carlisle, faced multiple counts of making indecent images of children aged between five and 12.
These images were discovered on his computer after police officers identified his vehicle parked outside a derelict building in October 2012.
Inside the vehicle, they found a laptop case, which was subsequently seized for forensic analysis.
The court heard that Wall had been prohibited from owning internet-enabled devices without police monitoring software, a restriction imposed by a prior court order.
When experts examined the computer, they uncovered evidence that Wall had been regularly viewing pornographic material, including a small number of indecent images of children.
Four of these images were classified as level four, indicating a high level of severity.
The court was informed that these images were accessed through search terms used by Wall on the internet, revealing a disturbing pattern of behavior.
Judge Peter Hughes, accompanied by a police officer, viewed the images in private and later commented on the findings, noting that Wall had accessed child pornography on three separate occasions using specific search engine terms.
The judge observed that Wall's viewing habits showed a pattern of regular adult pornography consumption, with moments where he had gone further into child exploitation material, although he had otherwise resisted the temptation.
Wall's criminal history includes a 12-month suspended prison sentence handed down in 2010 after he admitted to indecent acts committed in the showers of James Street swimming baths in Carlisle and possession of child pornography.
He also completed an intensive sex offenders’ treatment program in Northumberland.
The court debated whether Wall had breached his sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) while still serving a suspended sentence.
His legal representative argued that Wall had no means of internet access until he purchased two 'dongles' in 2012, but Judge Hughes clarified that owning a laptop capable of internet access, regardless of use, constituted a breach of the order.
During sentencing, Wall’s defense lawyer, Erimnaz Mushtaq, highlighted that her client was receiving support from Cumbria Circles, a charity working with sex offenders, and was supported in court by his partner of 20 years and his mother.
She emphasized that Wall’s addiction was primarily to internet pornography.
Judge Hughes, considering the case carefully, acknowledged the potential for a prison sentence but expressed a preference for a more rehabilitative approach.
He noted the recent legal powers allowing judges to impose suspended sentences of up to two years and decided that a custodial sentence might not address the underlying issues effectively.
Ultimately, Wall was sentenced to nine months in prison for breaching the SOPO and an additional nine months for accessing indecent images, with the sentences to be served consecutively.
However, these terms were suspended for two years, contingent upon his compliance with two years of supervised probation and payment of a £100 victim surcharge.
Wall is already registered as a sex offender, reflecting the severity of his past and present offenses.
In a related case from March 2010, Wall was also given a suspended prison sentence after being caught engaging in inappropriate behavior at Carlisle’s James Street baths.
He was found to have committed a sex act while watching boys during a children’s fun day and later in the changing rooms while observing two boys in the showers with their father.
Wall pleaded guilty to these charges, which included engaging in sexual activity for gratification in the presence of children, knowing they would be aware of his actions.
The court also learned of his previous conviction for indecent exposure after being seen running naked across a beach at Whitehaven.
His legal representative argued that Wall was not a danger to the public if he received proper treatment in the community.
The judge, Judge Paul Batty QC, agreed, citing guidelines that suggest short prison sentences are insufficient for such offenses and that community treatment would be more effective.
Consequently, Wall was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, on the condition that he attends a sex offenders’ treatment program.
He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and banned from all swimming pools, schools, and recreational areas across the country.
Additionally, he was prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 indefinitely, aiming to prevent any future harm.
These cases highlight the ongoing concerns surrounding Clive Wall’s behavior in Carlisle and the legal system’s efforts to balance punishment with rehabilitation, emphasizing the importance of community safety and offender management.
