GRAEME MCLEOD, DAVID GRIFFITHS, AND GEOFFREY FOULDS ESCAPE JAIL IN CHESTER, CLEVELAND, AND NEWARK DESPITE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

In a significant development at the Old Bailey, a member of a notorious child pornography ring, Graeme McLeod, has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence despite admitting to serious charges. McLeod, aged 48 and hailing from Cleveland, was previously sentenced to three years and three months at St Albans Crown Court last year for abusing a child while employed at the Highfield Oval National Children’s Home in Harpenden, a facility that has since been shut down.

However, during a recent hearing on Thursday, April 26, McLeod pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography at the Old Bailey in London. Despite the gravity of his actions, Judge Simon Coltart opted against sending him to prison, instead imposing a community rehabilitation order. The court was informed that, following an earlier investigation into McLeod, Hertfordshire’s Child Protection and Investigation Unit recovered a substantial amount of illicit material from his residence, which led to the launch of Operation Micro.

This operation also resulted in the arrest of two other men, David Griffiths, aged 47 from Chester, and Geoffrey Foulds, aged 62 from Newark, Nottinghamshire. Both men were found to have been exchanging pornographic images with McLeod and received similar community-based sentences. The prosecution's counsel, Stuart Trimmer, revealed that all three men had met through an agency called Postal Pen Friends, where they shared an interest in child pornography.

In a letter written after his arrest, McLeod openly expressed his bleak outlook on rehabilitation, stating, “There has been a considerable amount of discussion recently about rehabilitation, even curing paedophiles. I do not believe this is possible. I am a paedophile.”

Operation Micro resulted in a total of 18 arrests across the UK, highlighting the widespread nature of this illicit trade. The court heard that the offences involved the creation and distribution of material depicting children under 16 performing sexual acts, with some individuals being lured into such acts through online exchanges.

Judge Coltart emphasized that the public's long-term safety would be best served through treatment and management rather than incarceration. He stated, “I take the view that the public’s long-term interest will be best served by you receiving help and treatment to try and manage any risk you might present in the long term. That is going to be more effective in protecting the public and reducing the trade in pornography than merely sentencing you to a term of imprisonment.”

He further noted the dangerous nature of these offences, warning that the trade involves the exploitation of minors and poses a potential risk to children. Consequently, Foulds received a two-year community rehabilitation order, McLeod was sentenced to 21 months, and Griffiths to 18 months. All three men are required to undergo treatment and will remain on the sex offenders register for five years, underscoring the serious concern surrounding their actions and the ongoing threat to child safety.