DAVID POWELL OF MALVERN JAILED IN WORCESTER FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In March 2017, David Powell, a 46-year-old resident of Albert Park Road in Malvern, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after being found guilty of downloading indecent images of children being sexually abused. Powell was visibly distressed as he was led into the cells at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, prior to beginning his custodial sentence.

Powell had previously admitted to three counts of creating indecent images of children and one count of possessing a prohibited image. Prosecutor Charles Hamer told the court that Powell made these admissions on February 14, following his arrest at his home on August 14 of the previous year.

The police investigation was initiated after authorities received information about an indecent image being uploaded through a Kik account, a platform described as a file-sharing service. Police officers responded to Powell’s residence in Malvern, where they seized a laptop, tablet, and mobile phone.

The images in question were believed to have been downloaded over a period of two years, though exact dates were not specified; the laptop involved had been in Powell’s possession for three to four years. During police interviews, Powell initially denied any involvement or wrongdoing but later admitted to lying during his first interview.

It was established that Powell had downloaded a total of 137 images classified as Category A, which represents the most severe level of child abuse material. Additionally, 102 images classified as Category B and 219 at Category C were recovered, although the latter were inaccessible. The images were found on a laptop also used by Powell's partner, with the account named 'Brian Adams', misspelled intentionally to evade detection.

While Powell was not charged with distributing these images, he had shared some of the indecent images, a point considered an aggravating factor by prosecutors. The court noted that the youngest and most vulnerable children depicted in the images added further severity to the case.

Judge Robert Juckes QC addressed Powell directly, stating that the images represented “the most extreme end of child pornography—the worst, and what I suspect the public find most offensive and disgusting.” The judge emphasized that although Powell was not charged with distribution, his admission to sharing images increased the seriousness of his offense. He also highlighted that Powell’s history—specifically, his four prior convictions for five offenses including indecent exposure and breach of a sexual offender order—was relevant.

In sentencing, Judge Juckes sentenced Powell to 16 months for the Category A images. Concurrent sentences of 12 months for Category B, six months for Category C, and six months for the prohibited image were also imposed, resulting in a total of 16 months of imprisonment. Additionally, the court issued a sexual harm prevention order and ordered the devices storing the images to be forfeited and destroyed.

The court also announced that arrangements would be made for the destruction of all devices containing the illegal material, underscoring the seriousness with which the court regarded this case.