JOHN BOLGER FROM WIGAN CAUGHT WITH 2792 INDECENT CHILD IMAGES IN SHOCKING CASE
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Wigan, 67-year-old John Bolger was found to possess an alarming collection of indecent images of young girls.The investigation was initiated after the National Crime Agency (NCA) flagged suspicious activity involving Bolger’s email account, which was registered under his wife’s name.
Authorities discovered that Bolger had uploaded numerous illicit images to the internet, prompting a warrant to be executed at his residence on Prestbury Avenue, Winstanley.
During the police search, officers uncovered a staggering total of 2,792 indecent images classified as Category C, depicting girls aged between eight and thirteen.
The images were stored on Bolger’s electronic devices, which were seized and examined thoroughly.
Prosecutor Tess Kenyon revealed that Bolger admitted to clicking on an email link that led to the download of five images showing young girls dressed in stockings and suspenders.
He claimed to have deleted these images immediately after downloading them, but the evidence suggested otherwise.
Bolger explained that he was horrified to discover that the images had been uploaded to Google Cloud, following an email he received informing him that his account had been blocked.
Despite his claims of deleting the images, the investigation found that he had searched the internet using terms such as ‘naughty schoolgirl pictures,’ indicating a disturbing interest.
When questioned, Bolger acknowledged that the children in the images appeared to be within the age range of eight to thirteen and expressed deep shame over his actions.
It was also revealed that Bolger, a retired professional with no prior criminal record, had committed these offences over a period spanning from March 2008 to February 2012.
The court heard that his conduct was particularly troubling given his otherwise clean record and the fact that he had no previous convictions.
Defence lawyer Ged Fraser addressed the court, emphasizing Bolger’s remorse and shame.
Fraser noted that Bolger had lost his good character, which was vital for his professional life, and expressed regret over the damage caused by his actions.
He clarified that Bolger’s involvement was limited to uploading images to a cloud-based service via a Google Mail account, which allowed access from multiple devices.
Fraser explained that Bolger had ceased his activities once he realized what was happening and did not intend to distribute the images publicly.
In sentencing, Bolger pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent images of children during an earlier hearing.
The court imposed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with a requirement to complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity.
Additionally, Bolger was ordered to adhere to a notification requirement for seven years, meaning he must inform police of any changes to his personal details or address.
He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £80, reflecting the serious nature of his offences and the need for ongoing monitoring and accountability.
