WHITEHAVEN MAN GRAHAM CAPOCCI SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGE CACHE IN CATASTROPHIC HORROR SHOW

In January 2017, authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of illegal images belonging to Graham Capocci, a resident of Whitehaven. The investigation revealed that Capocci, aged 44 at the time, had spent nearly seven years amassing a vast and grotesque library of child sexual abuse images, totaling approximately 236,000 photographs. This extensive collection was described by Carlisle’s leading judge as a “horror show,” highlighting the severity and depravity of the material found.

Police executed a raid on Capocci’s residence located on Wellington Row in Whitehaven, which led to the discovery of the illicit collection. Among the images recovered, 352 were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious level of abuse material. The images included photographs of very young girls, some as young as two to four years old, underscoring the disturbing nature of the collection. The sheer volume of images, gathered over a period starting from 2009, demonstrated an insatiable and catastrophic appetite for such material, according to the court.

Capocci faced charges that included three counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possession of such images. During the proceedings at Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Wayne Jackson detailed the extent of the criminal collection, emphasizing its horror and the significant breach of moral and legal boundaries.

It was noted that Capocci had no prior convictions, which was considered during sentencing. His defense lawyer, David Birrell, acknowledged that Capocci had fully admitted to the charges during police interviews. Birrell stated, “He said, frankly, ‘I am addicted’ – his word – to these images, so there was some recognition that was a problem.” The defense argued that Capocci’s previously good character should be taken into account, suggesting that immediate custody might not be necessary.

However, Judge Peter Davies strongly disagreed with this perspective. Addressing Capocci directly, the judge described the case as a particularly serious example of possession of indecent images. He detailed the findings of the police raid, describing the collection as an “Aladdin’s cave,” a “horror show” of nearly a quarter of a million unlawful images of children, accumulated over seven years. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting the “exorbitant, catastrophic amount of images” and the dangerous obsession that fueled such behavior.

As part of the sentence, Capocci was ordered to adhere to a sexual harm prevention order for a period of ten years, aimed at preventing any future offenses and protecting the community from further harm. The case underscores the ongoing concern over the proliferation of child abuse images and the importance of rigorous law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes.