JOHN ALLEN FROM KNUTSFORD ESCAPES JAIL AFTER POSSESSING NEARLY 5,000 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Knutsford, John Allen, a 65-year-old resident of Townfields, was found to possess an alarming collection of nearly 5,000 indecent images of children. Despite the severity of his actions, Allen was spared immediate imprisonment, though he faces strict conditions and a lengthy registration requirement.

Details emerged during a hearing at Warrington Crown Court on Thursday, revealing that Allen’s computer contained a vast number of illicit images, including photographs of young teenage girls. The court was told that these images had been meticulously organized into folders, with search terms such as ‘Japanese girls,’ ‘under fives,’ ‘young,’ and ‘little girls’ used to locate the material. The police investigation was initiated after authorities received information indicating Allen’s involvement with illegal content.

Authorities executed a raid on Allen’s home on August 25, following the tip-off. At the time, Allen was on holiday, but he was detained on September 1. Prosecutor Michael Whitty disclosed that Allen was found in possession of a staggering 4,970 indecent images of children. Among these, five were classified at the highest level of severity, level five, indicating the most extreme content. Additionally, there were 201 images categorized at level four, which also denote serious material.

During questioning, Allen initially denied any involvement with the images. However, in a subsequent interview, he admitted to deriving some form of excitement from viewing the material and acknowledged that he had actively searched for such images. The court was also informed that there was a concerning possibility that Allen had contemplated physically abusing children himself, given the nature of his online activity.

It was also revealed that Allen has a prior conviction dating back to 1983 for exposing himself to two teenage girls, indicating a long-standing pattern of concerning behavior. He pleaded guilty to ten counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving animals and children.

Representing Allen, lawyer Gareth Roberts stated that his client now perceives himself as a different person, emphasizing his desire to be a responsible father to his 10-year-old son. Despite this, the court took a serious view of his actions.

Judge Nicholas Woodward ordered Allen to participate in the Northumbria Sex Offenders Programme, emphasizing that such intervention would better serve public safety than a short-term prison sentence. Allen was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, for possession of indecent images. Additionally, he received a four-month suspended sentence for possessing extreme pornography, to run concurrently.

Furthermore, Allen was permanently barred from working with children and will be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for the next ten years. Judge Woodward commented that the extensive online activity and deliberate storage of illicit images demonstrated a troubling pattern of behavior, particularly concerning given Allen’s long-standing interest in teenage girls. The court’s decision reflects a focus on rehabilitation and public protection, rather than solely punitive measures.