COLIN PARKIN SENTENCED IN SALFORD FOR CHILD INDECENCY IMAGES AND UP SKIRT PHOTOGRAPHS

In December 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving Colin Parkin, a man from Salford, who was found to have collected and stored a large number of indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed that Parkin had taken and possessed photographs of young girls in bikinis while they were playing in their gardens, raising serious concerns about his conduct and intentions.

Police investigations were initiated after Parkin posted an indecent image on a chatroom, which led officers to execute a warrant at his residence in Salford. During the search, authorities recovered multiple electronic devices, including a computer, a mobile phone, and a digital camera. These devices contained a staggering total of 700 indecent images of children, categorized into different levels of severity. Specifically, there were 304 images classified as Category A, indicating the most serious content, along with 226 Category B images and 190 Category C images.

Further examination of the devices uncovered software designed to erase or conceal search history, suggesting an attempt to hide his activities. The images found depicted children ranging in age from as young as two to 15 years old, with the majority being between five and seven years old. Among the disturbing content were 'upskirt' photographs of girls in school uniforms, as well as images of children playing outdoors, including girls in bikinis on trampolines or in paddling pools.

Parkin, aged 50, admitted to owning the devices but initially denied any wrongdoing. He claimed that he had been searching for adult pornography and that he had been messaging others about a shared interest in cross-dressing. However, police found evidence of his involvement in creating and possessing indecent images of children, which led to his guilty plea on three counts of making indecent images of children.

The court also noted that Parkin had a prior conviction for indecent assault on a girl under 14, serving a five-year jail term previously. Prosecutor Charlotte Crangle highlighted that additional items of concern were recovered during the search, including the 'upskirt' images and photographs of children in their summer clothes playing outdoors.

Following his arrest, Parkin accepted ownership of the electronic equipment but continued to deny the allegations of creating or sharing indecent images. The judge, Suzanne Goddard QC, expressed her serious concern over the case, emphasizing the gravity of taking photographs of children in vulnerable situations. She stated, "It’s extremely worrying to hear you have been taking photos of children where they were playing out in their summer clothes. Clearly despite extensive intervention, you have still not learned how to deal with a coping mechanism in relation to the attraction you have to young children. Only you can come to terms with what you have done."

As a result, Parkin was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison. Additionally, he received an extended sentence of five years on licence, meaning he will be under supervision for that period after his release. The court also mandated that he sign the sex offenders register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from potential harm.