FREDERICK CUNNINGHAM OF EPWORTH JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN SCUNTHORPE

In December 2017, a disturbing case unfolded involving Frederick Cunningham, a 79-year-old resident of Fieldside, Epworth, who was found guilty of possessing a significant collection of illegal images depicting children and engaging in extreme pornography involving animals. The incident began when Cunningham visited a Carphone Warehouse store in Scunthorpe to report a malfunction with his mobile phone. During the interaction, Cunningham demonstrated the issue to a customer adviser, speaking the phrase 'nude children' into the device in front of staff members, which shocked those present.

According to court reports, Cunningham explained that his phone was unable to search for or access certain websites, which led him to demonstrate the problem. He showed the adviser that no search results appeared when he attempted to find content related to his concern. However, the situation took a darker turn when Cunningham repeated the phrase 'nude children' aloud in front of the store staff, revealing his intentions and knowledge of the content he was seeking.

Alarmed by his behavior, the staff member promptly alerted a manager, and Cunningham's phone was confiscated for inspection. The police were called, and Cunningham was arrested on Boxing Day, December 26. During the subsequent investigation, four additional mobile phones belonging to Cunningham were seized. Forensic analysis uncovered a disturbing cache of illegal material, including 261 images of children—ranging from infants to toddlers—and 29 images depicting bestiality.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans told Grimsby Crown Court that the images were likely stored on the 'dark web,' a hidden part of the internet not accessible through standard search engines. He explained that such material is typically hosted on specialized networks that are not indexed by mainstream servers, and that legitimate businesses do not usually host or distribute such content.

Further examination revealed that Cunningham had a long history of criminal offenses, with convictions dating back over 60 years. His criminal record includes 73 previous convictions, 14 of which were related to sexual offenses, with past convictions recorded in 1957, 1960, 1962, 1995, and 1998.

In court, Cunningham admitted to three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing extreme pornography involving a horse. The judge sentenced him to eight months in prison, ordered him to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, and imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order to restrict his access to certain materials and activities.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of illegal and harmful content, especially involving vulnerable children and animals, and underscores the importance of vigilance in retail environments and online spaces alike.