GRAHAM LEWIS, ANFIELD SCHOOL IT TECHNICIAN, WALKED FREE FROM LIVERPOOL COURT

In February 2019, Graham Lewis, a school IT technician from Pulford Street, Anfield, was involved in a disturbing case involving the possession of thousands of child sexual abuse images. Lewis was found with nearly 18,000 indecent images, including over 5,500 classified as Category A—the most serious category depicting rape or torture of children. The images were downloaded over a span of three years, from October 2015 to September 2018.

Lewis lost his job at Birchwood Community High School in Warrington after his alleged offending came to light. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that he was supported in the courtroom by his young partner, who showed visible relief as he was spared jail time.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that police executed a raid on Lewis’ home on October 3 of the previous year. Lewis answered the door and was subsequently arrested. During his police interview that day, he made no comment regarding the images he had downloaded.

Officers seized two laptops, a mobile phone, and an external hard drive for forensic analysis. Lewis was released on bail while the police examined the devices.

Prosecutor Simon Duncan stated, "Police were concerned because they knew he was working as an IT technician at a high school." The investigation uncovered detailed counts of the images: 5,520 categorized as Category A, 4,239 as Category B, and 8,039 as Category C. The seized devices contained numerous movies—563 in Category A, 391 in Category B, and 102 in Category C—more than half of which were easily accessible.

Further forensic examination revealed that one of Lewis’ laptops had Tor browser software used to access the Dark Web, and another displayed a virtual private network designed to conceal internet activity from his service provider.

Lewis was re-interviewed on December 18, where he admitted responsibility for possessing the images. He became visibly upset during the interview. He has no prior convictions.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading indecent images of children. During sentencing, Judge David Aubrey QC noted the serious nature of the offending, as well as the importance of balancing punishment with potential for rehabilitation. Lewis was ordered to participate in a sex offender treatment programme and a 25-day rehabilitation course.

In addition, he was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, required to register as a sex offender for 10 years, and ordered to pay court costs of £340. As the judge emphasized, while punishment is necessary, treatment aimed at reducing re-offending also plays a crucial role.