DAVID ALCOCK SHOCKS HARTLEPOOL WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL AND ESCAPES PRISON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Hartlepool community, David Alcock, a man with deep ties to the town, was found to possess an alarming collection of child pornography, yet he narrowly avoided imprisonment. The incident came to light in April 2007, revealing a disturbing pattern of behavior that has left many residents appalled.

Alcock, a 52-year-old former senior court clerk, was discovered to have amassed an astonishing total of over 60,000 indecent images of children. The police investigation was triggered after a concerned neighbour made a phone call that prompted a raid on his residence. During the search, authorities uncovered four computers, DVDs, discs containing illicit images, as well as two sex dolls, and various items of women’s and children’s clothing, along with cut-out faces used for creating obscene images. Some of these images were particularly grotesque, featuring pornographic models with faces of individuals whose photographs Alcock had taken and superimposed onto the bodies.

Alcock’s home was located on Middleton Road in Hartlepool, where he had lived until recent events. Following the discovery, his neighbours reacted strongly, with many feeling disturbed and outraged. Alcock’s reputation in the community was severely damaged, and he has since been unable to return to his residence, which now bears a £10,000 repair bill due to vandal attacks. Since the incident, he has been living in bed and breakfast accommodation, unable to return to his previous life.

During the court proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, it was revealed that Alcock had pleaded guilty to 21 charges, including 19 counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possessing child pornography. His guilty plea was based on the possession of a staggering 60,939 images, which police found on June 17 of the previous year. The prosecution, led by Gillian Milton, detailed the extent of the material seized, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the images and the presence of sex dolls and other related items in his home.

Alcock’s legal representative, Paul Cleasby, described his client as “a sad and lonely individual with an unhealthy hobby,” and highlighted the impact of the case on his life. Cleasby explained that Alcock had been a respected member of the community, working in respectable employment for over 20 years and running his own business for a decade before his arrest. He also noted that Alcock had lived with his mother all his life until her death, after which he reportedly experienced a period of depression. Cleasby suggested that if Alcock had sought help during that difficult time, he might not have fallen into the circumstances that led to his offending.

In court, Judge Tony Briggs acknowledged the seriousness of Alcock’s actions but ultimately decided to impose a suspended prison sentence. Alcock was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for ten years. Additionally, he was mandated to undergo two years of supervision and attend a sex offenders’ course. The judge emphasized that Alcock’s activities represented “a grotesque invasion of privacy,” but also recognized that the images had not been distributed. The court’s decision was influenced by Alcock’s cooperation with police and his otherwise unblemished background, which led the judge to opt for a lenient sentence.

As part of the court’s ruling, Alcock was also banned from working with children and from taking or making photographs for life. The case has left a lasting scar on the Hartlepool community, raising questions about the safety and oversight of individuals in positions of trust. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that can lurk behind seemingly ordinary lives, and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable members of society.