JAMES WHITEHURST FROM HERON CROSS SENT BACK TO PRISON FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

James Whitehurst, a man with a troubling history of offenses related to child exploitation, has been remanded in custody once again following his recent conviction for possessing and downloading illegal images of children. The incident underscores a disturbing pattern of behavior that has persisted despite previous incarcerations and legal restrictions.

Whitehurst, aged 35 and known to reside in Heron Cross, was initially sentenced to two years in prison in 2015 after being found guilty of creating indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography. His release came in July 2016, but his freedom was short-lived. In December of the same year, police officers visited his residence to conduct a routine check, only to discover more vile material stored on his mobile phone. This discovery led to his re-arrest and subsequent re-incarceration.

Following his release on July 19, 2017, Whitehurst moved to the Commercial Inn located on London Road in Stoke-on-Trent. However, his activities did not cease. Less than a month after his release, during an unannounced police visit on August 9, authorities found a Nintendo DS device in his possession, which was equipped with a camera. The device was seized and examined, revealing a disturbing collection of illegal images. Police uncovered five Category A images—the most serious classification—along with additional images categorized as B and C, as well as 20 extreme pornographic images. These findings prompted his immediate arrest and further legal proceedings.

During the investigation, police also seized a Kindle and a mobile phone from Whitehurst’s residence. The mobile phone contained four accessible Category C images, 171 inaccessible Category C images, and 53 inaccessible extreme pornographic images. The Kindle held 27 Category C images and 14 inaccessible extreme images, with two accessible extreme movies also discovered. These materials confirmed his ongoing engagement with illegal content, leading to his return to prison.

Whitehurst’s legal case was brought before Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, where prosecutor Emma Rutherford detailed the extent of his offenses. She explained that police, during their visit, found Whitehurst in possession of these devices and noted that he had no internet access at the time. Despite this, the devices contained numerous illegal images. The court heard that Whitehurst had previously been subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which was meant to restrict his access to devices and activities involving children. His breach of this order, coupled with the possession of such material, resulted in his current conviction.

Whitehurst, who has no fixed address, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order, four counts of making indecent images of children, and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image. Judge Paul Glenn sentenced him to 16 months in prison and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register. The judge also imposed restrictions preventing Whitehurst from living with or being in contact with individuals under the age of 16 and from possessing devices capable of storing images, emphasizing the seriousness of his repeated violations and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.

Whitehurst’s criminal history is extensive. In July 2015, he was jailed for two years after police found over 1,000 indecent images of children on his device. Officers had become suspicious when they observed him frantically tapping his phone as they approached his home in Shelton. A subsequent search revealed his internet search history included terms such as 'nude young girls,' and the images were linked to his device. At that time, Whitehurst was already under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order due to previous convictions.

Earlier, in August 2011, Whitehurst, then 29 and residing in Heron Cross, received a community order after being found with nearly 10,000 indecent images on his laptop. The images ranged from still photographs to moving images, with some classified at the highest levels of severity. Despite his psychiatric history and health issues, Whitehurst’s actions demonstrated a persistent pattern of offending. His case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing individuals with such dangerous proclivities, especially those with a history of non-compliance with legal restrictions and orders meant to protect vulnerable children from exploitation.