HORRIFIC OFFENDER DAVID LITTLEWOOD FROM HULL CAUGHT WITH NEARLY 39,000 CHILD IMAGES AND INVOLVED IN SEXUAL CRIMES
In a chilling case that has shocked the community of Hull, David Littlewood, a man with a disturbing history of sexual offenses, was recently apprehended with an astonishing collection of nearly 40,000 indecent images of children.The details of his criminal activities reveal a pattern of depravity that spans decades, highlighting the severity of his misconduct and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring such offenders to justice.
Littlewood, aged 68 and residing on Selby Street in Hull, had previously been convicted of serious sexual crimes, including kidnapping and assaulting a nine-year-old girl more than 30 years ago.
His earlier conviction in 2011 for possessing indecent images of children marked him as a known offender, but recent developments have uncovered even more disturbing evidence of his ongoing predatory behavior.
In June 2022, authorities executed a search warrant at Littlewood’s residence after a review of long-standing sexual abuse cases was reopened by Humberside Police.
Advances in forensic science, particularly DNA profiling, linked him to a previous case involving a nine-year-old girl who was attacked near Ennerdale and the River Hull.
During the investigation, police seized multiple devices, including two laptops, a mobile phone, and a tablet, all of which contained a vast trove of illegal material.
Littlewood attempted to deceive investigators by claiming that one of the laptops belonged to a friend and that he had recently found the other in a skip, claiming it was broken.
However, authorities quickly dismissed these claims, as the devices contained a significant number of indecent images of children.
The most serious category, Category A, included 3,113 still images and 1,209 videos depicting rape and torture of minors.
Additional images and videos fell into Categories B and C, with a total of 38,874 images and videos discovered on his devices, illustrating a disturbing pattern of exploitation involving numerous victims.
Prosecutor Stephen Welch detailed the extent of the material, emphasizing that Littlewood was responsible for downloading and possessing these images.
The images depicted children as young as two to four years old, engaging in sexually explicit acts, which the court described as “filthy,” “disgusting,” and “degrading.” Littlewood’s criminal record also includes a 2011 conviction for possessing 14 indecent photographs of children, which further underscores his long-standing pattern of sexual misconduct.
His notoriety was cemented when he admitted to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl in 1979.
The victim later described him as “not a human being, he’s a monster,” reflecting the profound impact of his crimes.
The case was reopened many years later, and forensic evidence confirmed his involvement.
Police found over 2,000 indecent images of children on his computer during the recent search.
His initial sentence for the 2011 offenses was seven and a half years, but it was later reduced to five years on appeal.
During the sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court, Recorder Caroline Goodwin QC condemned Littlewood’s actions and character.
She highlighted his “distinct interest in children” and his history of sexual offenses, emphasizing his manipulative and deceitful nature.
The judge described his behavior as “deeply manipulative,” noting that he had a “distorted” view of morality and a disturbing fixation on images of children as young as two to four years old.
Recorder Goodwin expressed her disgust, stating that Littlewood should be “hanging his head in absolute disgust and shame” for his actions.
She pointed out the suffering inflicted on the children involved, who would endure significant stress and anxiety, describing their exploitation as “mental torture” for the victims.
Despite the severity of his crimes, the judge acknowledged a small degree of insight from Littlewood, noting that he had begun to recognize that his behavior was unacceptable.
As part of his sentence, Littlewood was ordered to undergo 30 days of rehabilitation and complete 31 sessions with the probation service.
Additionally, he was issued a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and will be required to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.
