February 2019 Paedophile school IT worker WALKS FREE from court  A school IT technician caught with thousands of child sexual abuse photos including over 5,000 cat A images showing the rape or torture of children has walked free from court  Graham Lewis, of Pulford Street, Anfield, amassed a sickening collection of nearly 18,000 indecent images, over three years. The 25-year-old lost his job at Birchwood Community High School in Warrington when his disturbing obsession came to light. But the paedophile was supported in the public gallery by his young partner, who cried tears of relief when he was spared jail. Liverpool Crown Court heard police raided Lewis’ home on October 3 last year, when he answered the door and was arrested. He made no comment about the vile photos – downloaded between October 2015 and September 2018 – in an interview that day. Officers seized two laptops, a mobile phone and an external hard drive and Lewis was bailed, pending analysis of the equipment. Simon Duncan, prosecuting, said: “Police were concerned because they knew he was working as an IT technician at a high school.” Police discovered 5,520 Category A – the most serious category – 4,239 Category B and 8,039 Category C indecent images. The haul included 563 Category A, 391 Category B and 102 Category C movies, more than half of which were easily accessible. One of his laptops had Tor browser software, which can be used to hide activity and provide access to the ‘Dark Web’. Mr Duncan said the other laptop showed a “virtual provider network”, designed to hide activity from an internet service provider. Lewis was interviewed again on December 18, when he admitted responsibility for the photos, but then became very upset. The pervert, who has no previous convictions, admitted three counts of downloading indecent images of children. Red-faced Lewis cried and his girlfriend sobbed as Judge David Aubrey, QC, described the impact of his offending and his demeanour in the dock. Judge Aubrey said there was a public interest in punishing people for such crimes, but also in treating them to reduce the likelihood of re-offending. He said there was a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation” and ordered Lewis to attend a sex offender treatment programme and 25-day rehabilitation course. The judge said Lewis must comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years, and pay £340 court costs.