HENRY VIERRATH FROM RUGELEY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DOWNLOADS IN STAFFORD

In a case that has shocked the community of Rugeley and the wider Stafford area, Henry Vierrath, a prison officer at Stafford jail, was found to have downloaded over a thousand indecent images of children from the internet. The incident came to light in February 2006 when Vierrath appeared before Stafford Crown Court to face serious charges related to child pornography.

Despite the gravity of his actions, Vierrath was not sentenced to prison. Instead, the judge opted for a three-year rehabilitation order, citing the defendant's ongoing struggles with depression and his proactive steps to seek psychiatric help as mitigating factors. The court was informed that Vierrath had contacted NHS Direct regarding his problem with downloading child pornography, which triggered a police investigation.

Prosecutor Stuart Clarkson detailed that Vierrath’s call to NHS Direct prompted authorities to conduct a police check. During questioning, Vierrath admitted that he might have viewed images of children aged 14 and 16. Following his admission, authorities seized his computer, revealing a hard drive containing a total of 1,151 indecent images of children. The images included both still photographs and over 30 video clips. Among these, three images were classified as the most serious category five, while the remaining 1,032 fell into the least serious category one.

When arrested, Vierrath explained to police that his wife had seen the images on his computer and questioned how they had come to be there. He described a process of open discussion with his wife, which led him to seek psychiatric help. He had spoken to someone at NHS Direct and subsequently visited his general practitioner to address other personal issues.

The defendant, aged 48 and residing on Lodge Road in Rugeley, admitted to 16 sample charges of making indecent photographs of children, covering the period from December 2003 to February 2006. He also pleaded guilty to possessing the entire collection of 1,151 images. As part of his sentence, Vierrath was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years, attend an internet offender programme, and pay costs amounting to £616.

Judge Simon Tonking emphasized the seriousness of the offences, stating, “When an indecent photograph at level three or five is taken, not only is a child exploited, they are badly abused. Without the downloaders, there would not be people exploiting children. That’s why these offences are serious.” The judge acknowledged that Vierrath had been under significant personal pressure at the time and had sought help, which led to the police being informed.

Judge Tonking also noted that Vierrath had been a good man prior to these events and expressed understanding of his remorse. He highlighted that prison would have interrupted the ongoing help Vierrath was receiving, which was a factor in avoiding a custodial sentence. The judge concluded by stressing the importance of recognizing and addressing such issues early, as seeking help should not be discouraged.

Defence lawyer Mr. Daniel Oscroft explained that Vierrath had been clinically diagnosed with depression. He described his client as someone who had been successful both personally and professionally until facing circumstances he could not manage. The court was also told that Vierrath’s wife, who holds a responsible position, remained supportive, along with friends and former colleagues from his workplace.