GEORGE SPITERI FROM CRAWLEY ESCAPES JAIL OVER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES DESPITE CANCER DIAGNOSIS

In a case that has shocked the local community of Crawley, George Spiteri, a 70-year-old resident of The Glade in Furnace Green, appeared before Lewes Crown Court on a recent Friday to face serious charges related to the possession of indecent images of children. Spiteri had previously entered guilty pleas to six counts of making such images, which included photographs of children as young as five years old.

During the court proceedings, prosecutors revealed the disturbing extent of Spiteri's collection. Police had uncovered nine images classified as Category A, representing the most severe and explicit material, along with ten images in Category B and 21 in Category C. These images depicted children in various states of abuse, highlighting the severity of the offences committed.

Prosecutor Francesca Lewington addressed the court, noting that despite Spiteri's guilty pleas, there was an initial suggestion that he might have been coerced or blackmailed into possessing these images. However, the evidence, including a series of enthusiastic emails from Spiteri discussing the content and details of the images, did not support this theory. Instead, it painted a picture of a man actively engaged in viewing and collecting such material.

In addition to the child abuse images, Spiteri admitted to possessing explicit material involving acts of bestiality. The police found 74 images and 30 videos depicting sexual acts with animals, further compounding the seriousness of his offences.

Defence lawyer Trina Little spoke on behalf of Spiteri, emphasizing his previously clean record and his reputation as a family man. She described him as a 70-year-old who had lived an exemplary life and was deeply remorseful for his actions. Little explained that Spiteri was struggling to come to terms with his offences and expressed that his family was devastated by the revelations. Despite their shock, the family was eager to move forward and support him.

Recognizing Spiteri's medical condition, Little appealed to the court for leniency, requesting that a prison sentence be suspended. She revealed that Spiteri had been diagnosed with bowel cancer and argued that incarceration would be detrimental to his health, potentially ending his life. She urged the judge to consider a suspended sentence as an act of mercy, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding his prognosis and the limited time his family might have with him.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC acknowledged the gravity of the offences, citing the young age of the children depicted and Spiteri's apparent enthusiasm as evidence of the seriousness of the crimes. Typically, possession of Category A images warrants immediate custody, but given Spiteri's medical condition, the judge made an exceptional decision.

As a result, Spiteri was sentenced to a 12-month jail term, suspended for 18 months. The court also imposed a sexual harm prevention order, citing concerns that Spiteri posed a risk to the public. His computers will be confiscated by police, and he was ordered to pay £1,200 in prosecution costs. Additionally, Spiteri is required to sign the sex offenders register for the next ten years. The court also noted that he denied separate charges of distributing indecent images of children, which will remain on file for potential future action.