COLIN WATTS FROM DOVECOT SPARED JAIL AFTER CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL IN LIVERPOOL

In September 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Colin Watts, a 37-year-old former primary school teacher from Dovecot, who was caught possessing a significant collection of child sexual abuse images. Despite the severity of the material, Watts was ultimately spared immediate imprisonment, receiving a sentence that was suspended for two years.

Watts, who resides on Gordon Drive in Dovecot, was found to have downloaded a total of 48 images depicting children engaged in sexual activities. The images included some classified as Category A, indicating the most serious level of abuse, as well as Category B images. The court was informed that Watts had actively searched for these images using specific keywords, including terms like PTHC, which stands for pre-teen hardcore, suggesting deliberate intent in his online activity.

During the proceedings, the prosecution, led by Ian Criddle, emphasized that the images were recovered as a direct result of Watts’s targeted searches. Criddle stated, “Simply put, the images were recovered as a result of the defendant making specific searches with words likely to produce those images, including PTHC.”

Watts, who had no prior criminal record, admitted to the offences during police interviews. He claimed that he had no sexual interest in children and that his viewing of the images was driven by a fascination with the taboo rather than any sexual attraction. He explained that he was primarily interested in adult pornography, and his actions were motivated by curiosity rather than predatory intent.

Judge Norman Wright, presiding over the case, acknowledged that there was no evidence to suggest Watts had ever physically harmed or sexually abused children. However, he condemned Watts for contributing to the demand for such images, describing his actions as “feeding the market” for child abuse material. Despite this, the judge decided that a custodial sentence was not necessary at this stage, believing that suspending the prison term would enable the Probation Service to provide appropriate support and supervision to help Watts avoid further offending.

During the sentencing, Watts’s parents, who were present in the courtroom, were visibly distressed, sobbing as their son was spared immediate jail time. The judge ordered Watts to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of seven years and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This order placed strict restrictions on Watts’s internet use and prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with children, aiming to prevent any future harm.

Overall, the case highlighted the ongoing concerns about online child exploitation and the importance of monitoring and addressing individuals involved in the possession of such illegal material, even when no direct contact with children has occurred.