DAVID BROADHURST LEIGH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES SCANDAL SHOCKS COMMUNITY

In December 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving David Broadhurst, a 62-year-old resident of Leigh, who was convicted of possessing and viewing child abuse images. Broadhurst, a former children’s football coach, was found to have downloaded a significant number of indecent images, which he claimed he viewed as a form of escapism from his personal struggles.

Broadhurst admitted to using online chat rooms where he described his behavior as “bravado,” but he insisted that he had not actively searched for such images. Instead, he claimed that the images had been sent to him anonymously, and he only downloaded and viewed them before deleting them. Prosecutor Chris Taylor outlined that police investigations revealed a troubling collection of material on Broadhurst’s devices, including a total of 624 indecent images and 114 videos.

The content of these images was particularly heinous, with some depicting sadistic sexual abuse involving babies and young girls aged between three and nine years old. The police action followed a raid on Broadhurst’s home, which was then located on Manor Road in Rainhill. During the raid, officers seized various computers and related electronic items for forensic analysis. The investigation uncovered the extent of Broadhurst’s possession of illegal material.

Further details emerged during the court proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, where it was revealed that Broadhurst, who also works part-time as a DJ, was identified as a suspect after his Skype conversations with another man, which discussed the sexual abuse of children. This exchange prompted authorities to act swiftly.

On April 20 of that year, Merseyside Police, alerted by Devon and Cornwall Police, executed a search warrant at Broadhurst’s residence early in the morning. Both Broadhurst and his wife were present at the time. During subsequent interviews, Broadhurst described his actions as “escapism linked to his depression,” offering insight into his mental state at the time.

Broadhurst, who has since separated from his wife and now resides in Leigh, pleaded guilty to seven charges. These included making indecent photographs, possessing such images, creating indecent pseudo-photographs, and possessing prohibited images. His sentencing was handed down by Judge Anil Murray, who imposed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Judge Murray acknowledged that Broadhurst had taken steps to address his “warped desires” since his arrest. However, he expressed concern about the impact of these offenses on the community, especially considering Broadhurst’s previous role as a children’s football coach. While there was no evidence to suggest he had directly harmed any children, the court recognized the potential harm to parents and the community’s trust.

As part of his sentence, Broadhurst was ordered to attend an accredited sex offenders’ treatment program and to participate in 30 days of rehabilitation activities. Additionally, he was mandated to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having contact with anyone under the age of 16 for the same period. This case highlights the ongoing concerns about individuals in positions of trust who commit such offenses and the importance of rigorous legal and community safeguards.