DAVID TAYLOR OXTON PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT TAKING PHOTOS AT PIER HEAD IN WIRRAL

In September 2017, David Taylor, a man with a troubling history, was caught in a disturbing act at the Pier Head in Wirral. A member of the public observed Taylor engaging in inappropriate behavior, specifically taking photographs of young girls' bottoms while they were playing on the grass. The individual who witnessed this incident promptly reported it to the authorities, leading to Taylor's immediate identification and subsequent arrest. This incident added to a long-standing pattern of concerning behavior associated with Taylor, who has a documented history of child exploitation and indecent image possession.

Back in October 2016, Taylor, then 65 years old and residing on Alexandra Road in Oxton, was already serving a prison sentence for possessing a significant number of indecent images of children. He had been found to have downloaded approximately 25,000 such images, which included children as young as six years old. His criminal activities came to light after police officers conducted a routine visit to his residence to verify his compliance with a court order that restricted his internet use. During this visit, officers discovered that Taylor was not adhering to the restrictions, prompting the seizure of his laptop for forensic examination.

The forensic analysis revealed that Taylor's device contained 36 images in each of three categories of increasing severity, all depicting minors engaged in sexual activities. These findings led to Taylor pleading guilty to four charges related to the downloading and possession of indecent images of children. The court was informed that the images included some of children as young as six years old, highlighting the severity of his offenses. Liverpool Crown Court sentenced Taylor to 12 months in prison for breaching the court order and possessing such material. The judge, Recorder Anthony Long, emphasized the gravity of Taylor's actions, stating, “It is suggested you might respond to the Northumbria Sex Offenders Programme. In my judgment, you have had ample opportunities over the years for help for what is obviously a serious problem but you have failed to take that help or act upon it. You were the subject of an order preventing you from accessing the internet for this purpose, but you went ahead and did it anyway.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Taylor was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which was made indefinite, and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and restrictions. These measures reflect the serious concern authorities have regarding his potential risk to the community.

Further back in his criminal history, Taylor's disturbing pattern of abuse dates to the 1980s and 1990s. In September 2012, he was jailed for sexually abusing a teenage boy while serving as a volunteer with the Wallasey Sea Cadets. At that time, Taylor held the rank of lieutenant and was involved in a three-year campaign of abuse against the young victim. The abuse only came to light after Taylor was previously jailed in 2010 for possession of child pornography. The victim, now an adult, revealed that Taylor had groomed him during visits home from sea, buying him sweets and equipment in exchange for sexual favors. The victim described Taylor as “a very, very nice man,” noting that he did not use force but felt guilty for his entire life.

Prosecutor Kim Egerton explained that the police became aware of the abuse after the victim saw news reports of Taylor's previous prosecution and realized that if he had spoken out earlier, more children might have been spared from harm. Taylor's criminal record includes convictions for abusing boys under 16 dating back to the 1980s and 1990s. In 2010, he was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possession of child pornography and was subsequently banned from working with children.

When arrested this year, Taylor chose not to comment to police but ultimately pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault in court. His defense attorney, Jonathon Duffy, expressed remorse on his behalf, stating, “He has reflected on his conduct and realizes the pain he has caused and the enduring problems he has suffered.”

Judge Stephen Clarke sentenced Taylor to 30 months in prison, citing the constraints of the law at the time of his previous offenses. Additionally, Taylor was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life, ensuring that he remains under supervision and restrictions for the foreseeable future. His criminal history and recent offenses underscore the ongoing concerns surrounding his behavior and the importance of stringent legal measures to protect the community from potential harm.