DAVID FINCH FROM COLCHESTER JAILED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN ESSEX
In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community of Colchester and the wider Essex area, David Finch, a 39-year-old resident of Paxman Avenue, was sentenced for possessing and creating some of the most grotesque child abuse images encountered by the courts.The investigation into Finch’s activities began on June 27, 2019, when police executed a search warrant at his former residence in Paxman Avenue, Colchester.
During the search, law enforcement officers seized a Dell laptop and a Samsung tablet belonging to Finch.
A forensic analysis of these devices revealed a staggering collection of 8,335 indecent images and videos.
Among these, 528 images were classified in the most severe 'A' category, indicating the worst form of child abuse material.
Additionally, there were 1,060 images in category B and 5,499 in category C, each representing varying degrees of severity.
The sheer volume and nature of these images underscored the gravity of Finch’s offenses.
Finch appeared before Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing on a Monday, having previously admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children during a hearing at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on March 16.
Prosecutor Joanne Eley detailed the disturbing contents of Finch’s collection, noting that many images were stored in clearly labeled folders.
These folders included images depicting the abuse of infants and toddlers, highlighting the heinous nature of the material.
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Eley further explained that a total of 78,948 files remained uncategorized on Finch’s devices.
She emphasized that if all these files were graded, the total number would likely double, indicating an even more extensive collection.
Moreover, an additional 5,000 files were marked as 'unconfirmed' or deemed indecent by one police force but had yet to undergo the full assessment process required by other forces before being added to the police database.
Investigations also uncovered that Finch had used peer-to-peer file-sharing software on his laptop, with searches dating back to 2017 for indecent material.
Police found similar search terms on an Xbox console and a Samsung laptop found inside Finch’s property, suggesting a pattern of ongoing activity over several years.
Judge Rupert Overbury addressed Finch directly during the sentencing, stating, “This has probably just scratched the surface of what you were up to over a number of years.
The images are amongst the worst this court encounters.
How anyone can get any pleasure out of seeing that defies logic.” As a result of his actions, Finch was sentenced to 14 months in prison.
He was also placed under a sexual harm prevention order and will be required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and compliance with legal restrictions.
In a related case from March 2021, Finch was found to have downloaded over 7,000 indecent images of children, including some depicting the sexual abuse of babies.
This earlier investigation was conducted by Essex Police’s online investigations team, which raided his Colchester home.
Prosecutor Laura McLeod highlighted the severity of the material, stating that many images involved pre-pubescent children and infants, with the most severe category A images being particularly disturbing.
The court was told that the starting point for sentencing such offenses is typically one year in custody.
Finch admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children, with the charges relating to 751 images in category A, 1,451 in category B, and 5,883 in category C.
He cooperated fully with police, attending a voluntary interview and submitting to a polygraph test.
The case was then transferred to Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing, scheduled for April 13, 2021.
Finch was released on unconditional bail pending the hearing, but remains subject to notification requirements that obligate him to inform authorities of his whereabouts at all times.
