DANIEL WOMALD FROM BEWDLEY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ANIMAL SEX IMAGES IN WORCESTER

In March 2014, a serious case involving a Bewdley resident, Daniel Wormald, came to light when he was brought before Worcester Crown Court to face multiple charges related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children and extreme pornography. The case highlighted the disturbing nature of his offenses, which spanned several years and involved a significant collection of illicit material.

Wormald, a 23-year-old university student from Bewdley, pleaded guilty to five counts of making indecent images of children. These charges stemmed from the discovery of numerous images stored on his devices, which police seized during a raid at his home on Kidderminster Road, Bewdley. The investigation revealed a total of 333 indecent images classified at various levels of severity, ranging from level 1 to level 5, with the most serious images being at level 5. In addition to these, authorities found 336 pornographic images depicting animals engaged in sexual acts, as well as a prohibited image of a child on his mobile phone.

The police investigation uncovered that Wormald had been downloading this material since 2010, indicating a pattern of behavior that persisted over several years. During police interviews, he offered no explanation for his actions. The analysis of his devices showed a disturbing collection, including 18 images at level 2, 80 at level 3, 41 at level 4, and three at level 5, which is considered the most severe category. The presence of images involving animals and a child on his phone further compounded the seriousness of his offenses.

Prosecutor Paul Whitfield emphasized that the offenses dated back to 2010 and were uncovered when police executed a search warrant at Wormald’s residence. The evidence presented painted a troubling picture of his activities over the years.

In court, Wormald, who was described as having been of previously good character, expressed no remorse during police interviews. His defense solicitor, Michael Aspinall, provided character references and highlighted that the offenses began when Wormald was 19 years old. The defense also pointed out that Wormald had been bullied during his school years and found solace in his computer work. Since the charges, he had completed his master’s degree and received a promotion at work, demonstrating some positive steps forward.

Judge Richard Rundell acknowledged the severity of the offenses but expressed the view that a custodial sentence would not serve the best interests of justice. Instead, he opted for a community-based approach, believing that Wormald would benefit more from rehabilitation. The judge ordered that Wormald be subject to a three-year supervision period under the probation service, during which he must participate in a sex offender treatment program and complete 150 hours of unpaid community work. Additionally, Wormald was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and pay court costs of £500. The judge also decided that a sexual offences prevention order was unnecessary, as he did not consider Wormald to pose a significant danger to the public at this time.