DANIEL BAYLIS OF STROUD SENTENCED FOR MASSIVE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY COLLECTION IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Stroud, Daniel Baylis, a 52-year-old man, was found to possess an alarming number of indecent images of children, totaling nearly 140,000. The incident came to light when Baylis attempted to delete some of these illicit images while at his workplace, leading to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

According to court reports, Baylis had stored a significant collection of illegal material on his personal phone, but faced difficulties deleting them individually. To expedite the process, he decided to transfer the images onto his work computer located in Cirencester, with the intention of deleting multiple files at once. However, his actions did not go unnoticed. The employer, an American-owned firm, detected suspicious activity through their monitoring software and promptly contacted law enforcement authorities.

Following an investigation, police arrested Baylis on August 30 of the previous year. During the court hearing held at Gloucester Crown Court, it was revealed that the images and videos he collected spanned from January 2002 to September of the previous year. The vast majority of the material, totaling 138,728 images and 381 videos, were classified as the lowest level of seriousness, involving children in states of undress but not engaged in abuse. Nonetheless, the court noted that some of the content was more severe, with 14 images rated at level two, two at level three, and three at the most serious level five.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner explained that the images primarily depicted children in compromising situations, though not necessarily being harmed. The court was told that Baylis was attempting to delete these images using his work computer when his employer’s security system flagged his activity, leading to his arrest. The police took him into custody at his residence in Cheapside, Stroud, and he was formally charged with 16 counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.

During the court proceedings, Baylis’s wife was present, standing by her husband. The judge, Jamie Tabor QC, addressed the court, stating, “You are now in your 50s and hitherto you have led as far as I can see a blameless and industrious life. You are a married man with a family and with certain skills which you have been using in your employment. But you have been harbouring a dark secret for many years.”

Representing the defense, Jon Holmes emphasized that Baylis’s wife was supportive and present in court, although she did not condone his actions. Holmes described Baylis as “very remorseful” and highlighted that he had the backing of his family and current employer, which Holmes considered a fortunate circumstance.

In sentencing, Judge Jamie Tabor QC ordered Baylis to complete a three-year community order, which includes supervision and mandatory attendance at a sex offenders’ course. Additionally, Baylis was required to pay costs amounting to £500. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Stroud, raising serious concerns about the presence of such illegal material and the importance of vigilant monitoring in workplaces to prevent similar incidents in the future.