BURNLEY NURSE DAVID HAIGH CAUGHT WITH CHILD AND EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY IN SHOCKING CASE
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the town of Burnley, local nurse David Haigh, aged 52, was found to be in possession of indecent images of children and extreme pornography.The incident came to light following a bitter separation from his wife, who, concerned about his online activities, alerted the police.
Officers subsequently raided the home of Haigh's elderly parents, where he was residing at the time.
Burnley Crown Court heard that Haigh, a former theatre nurse with an otherwise unblemished career spanning over three decades, had been sent the illicit movies via email.
It was clarified during the proceedings that Haigh was not actively searching the internet for such material but had received it through electronic communication.
The court was informed that among the indecent films found on his devices, one featured a 10-year-old child, while others depicted young teenagers, raising serious concerns about the nature of his offenses.
Haigh, who resides on Brunshaw Road, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, committed between August and October 2012.
He also admitted to possessing extreme pornography, including 12 images involving sexual acts with animals.
The court was told that five of the videos were classified as level four, indicating a high level of severity, with two at level two and fifty-six at level one.
Prosecutor Stephen Parker detailed that Haigh had a history of internet concerns expressed by his wife prior to their separation.
Following their split, she believed he had stored indecent images on his computers and related devices.
In November 2012, she contacted the police, leading to a search warrant being executed.
During the search, officers recovered an iPad, a laptop, and an external hard drive, where the illicit content was discovered.
Haigh was questioned and initially admitted to possessing some indecent images on his iPad, but when further evidence was presented, he refused to comment.
Haigh, who has no previous criminal record, was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to undergo two years of probation supervision and participate in the internet sex offenders programme.
Additionally, he was instructed to pay costs of £250 and was required to sign the sex offenders register for a period of seven years.
A five-year sexual offences prevention order was also imposed, granting police authority to monitor his internet activity.
During the sentencing, Judge Jonathan Gibson emphasized that there was no evidence of Haigh distributing the images to others, which was a mitigating factor.
However, the judge highlighted the seriousness of the offenses and noted that Haigh had been suspended by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) pending further disciplinary action.
The NMC had already suspended his registration for twelve months, and he now faces the possibility of being struck off the professional register entirely.
Philip Holden, representing Haigh, expressed regret over the impact of his actions, stating, “David Haigh has lost a 30-year nursing career by his actions that bring him before this court, that saw him work as a theatre nurse, with an unblemished record.
It was a job which he very much enjoyed and a job which he will never be able to perform again.” As the case concludes, the community and medical professionals alike are left to grapple with the implications of this disturbing revelation involving a respected local figure from Burnley, whose career and reputation have been irrevocably damaged by his actions.
