DEREK CURTIS FROM RIBBLETON SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN PRESTON

In a case that has shocked the local community of Ribbleton, Preston, Derek Curtis, aged 50, has been convicted and sentenced for possessing and creating indecent images of children. The incident came to light after authorities uncovered a significant collection of illicit material stored on his personal computer hard drives. Curtis, who resides on Robin Street in Ribbleton, was found to have accumulated a total of 250 indecent images, some of which depicted children believed to be under the age of ten. The images ranged across various categories, from the most severe Category A to Category C, according to the classification system used by law enforcement.

Details of the case emerged during a hearing at Preston Crown Court, where it was revealed that Lancashire Constabulary officers executed a search warrant at Curtis’s residence in June 2012. During the raid, five pieces of computer equipment were seized for analysis. Curtis readily admitted to officers that he had been viewing indecent images he had found online, confirming his involvement with the illicit material.

The investigation further uncovered that there were 15 video clips among the images, all depicting exploitative content involving minors. Prosecutor Karen Brooks informed the court that upon his arrest, Curtis acknowledged that the images were indeed his property and that he had been actively viewing them.

Defense lawyer Beverly Hackett argued that Curtis was suffering from health issues and expressed his willingness to undergo rehabilitation. She also mentioned that Curtis had been forced to relocate within Preston after his previous home was targeted in an attack, emphasizing his desire to move past these troubling circumstances and seek redemption.

Judge Michael Byrne delivered the sentence, which included a 10-month prison term suspended for two years. Curtis was also ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years and to comply with a sexual offenders prevention order (SOPO) for five years. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of the offense and aims to protect the community while offering Curtis an opportunity for rehabilitation.