DAVID BROWN FROM KNUTSFORD AND WARRINGTON ESCAPES PRISON DESPITE VIEWING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
| Red Rose Database
Warrington Knutsford Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has drawn significant attention, 48-year-old David Brown, a resident of Warrington with ties to Knutsford, was found guilty of possessing a large collection of indecent images of children but was spared immediate imprisonment. The investigation into Brown’s activities was initiated after a raid conducted by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Agency (CEOP) at his former residence in Helena Close, Knutsford. This operation was prompted by a tip-off from Interpol, which flagged suspicious online activity linked to Brown.
During the raid, authorities seized Brown’s laptop and two external hard drives. When questioned, Brown admitted responsibility for the content stored on these devices. Prosecutor Jane Morris outlined that Brown had been sourcing this material from December 2009, citing a disturbing motive rooted in addressing his own childhood memories. She emphasized that Brown had actively searched for such material, which raised serious concerns about his intentions and the nature of his online behavior.
The court was informed that Brown’s online activity had attracted the attention of international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol, after he accessed an online forum dedicated to sharing such illicit content. When the police examined his seized computers, they discovered a disturbing array of images and videos. The images ranged from level one to the most severe, level five, with the most serious being level four. Additionally, officers found five videos classified at level four, indicating a high degree of indecency and exploitation.
Despite the gravity of the findings, the court acknowledged that Brown was of previously good character. His defense argued that he was highly motivated to seek treatment and was willing to fully engage with any rehabilitative programs offered. The defense also pointed out that Brown accepted the presence of numerous images, including many at lower levels of severity, specifically levels one through three, with fewer at the more serious levels.
Kim Halsall, representing Brown, stated, “He accepts there were a huge number of level three and four images and to a lesser extent level five. He is appalled and disgusted by his actions and has sought treatment. There is absolutely no possibility of offending in the future.”
In sentencing, Judge David Hale acknowledged the seriousness of the offense but opted for a suspended sentence. Brown was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge emphasized that the possession of such material, regardless of motivation, is unacceptable, noting, “Somewhere in the world, those children were abused to get these images so you could get them for your tawdry ends.”
Furthermore, Brown was subjected to a two-year supervision order, required to attend the Northumbria sex offenders course, ordered to pay costs amounting to £1,200, and mandated to sign the sex offenders register for five years. He was also prohibited from working with children, reflecting the court’s concern for public safety and the protection of vulnerable individuals.
During the raid, authorities seized Brown’s laptop and two external hard drives. When questioned, Brown admitted responsibility for the content stored on these devices. Prosecutor Jane Morris outlined that Brown had been sourcing this material from December 2009, citing a disturbing motive rooted in addressing his own childhood memories. She emphasized that Brown had actively searched for such material, which raised serious concerns about his intentions and the nature of his online behavior.
The court was informed that Brown’s online activity had attracted the attention of international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol, after he accessed an online forum dedicated to sharing such illicit content. When the police examined his seized computers, they discovered a disturbing array of images and videos. The images ranged from level one to the most severe, level five, with the most serious being level four. Additionally, officers found five videos classified at level four, indicating a high degree of indecency and exploitation.
Despite the gravity of the findings, the court acknowledged that Brown was of previously good character. His defense argued that he was highly motivated to seek treatment and was willing to fully engage with any rehabilitative programs offered. The defense also pointed out that Brown accepted the presence of numerous images, including many at lower levels of severity, specifically levels one through three, with fewer at the more serious levels.
Kim Halsall, representing Brown, stated, “He accepts there were a huge number of level three and four images and to a lesser extent level five. He is appalled and disgusted by his actions and has sought treatment. There is absolutely no possibility of offending in the future.”
In sentencing, Judge David Hale acknowledged the seriousness of the offense but opted for a suspended sentence. Brown was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge emphasized that the possession of such material, regardless of motivation, is unacceptable, noting, “Somewhere in the world, those children were abused to get these images so you could get them for your tawdry ends.”
Furthermore, Brown was subjected to a two-year supervision order, required to attend the Northumbria sex offenders course, ordered to pay costs amounting to £1,200, and mandated to sign the sex offenders register for five years. He was also prohibited from working with children, reflecting the court’s concern for public safety and the protection of vulnerable individuals.