JOHN RILEY FROM ORRELL INVOLVED IN CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL AT LIVERPOOL CROWN COURT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Orrell and the wider Liverpool area, John Riley, a 50-year-old delivery driver from Beechwood Crescent, Orrell, was brought before Liverpool Crown Court to face serious allegations related to child exploitation and the distribution of indecent images.

According to court proceedings, Riley’s illicit activities came to light after he engaged in a clandestine online relationship with a woman he met through a swingers website. Their relationship was characterized by a series of explicit exchanges, including hundreds of text messages and photographs of a sexual nature. Prosecutor Harry Pepper detailed that the messages exchanged between Riley and the woman amounted to over 2,000 pages of communication, which included explicit photographs depicting sexual poses and acts.

It was revealed that the woman involved in the exchanges was deeply affected by Riley’s actions, expressing her love for him and her distress over his marriage, which she did not want to be involved in. The situation took a darker turn when police examined Riley’s mobile devices and discovered that he had sent her six indecent images of children. Among these images was one classified as the most serious category of child abuse material.

The investigation led to Riley’s arrest in March of the previous year. During police interviews, Riley admitted to exchanging messages with the woman he had met online. He also confessed to searching the internet for pre-teen models and young girls around 18 years old, indicating a disturbing pattern of online behavior and a desire to seek out underage individuals.

Riley pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including possession of an indecent photograph of a child and five counts of distributing indecent images across various categories of severity. The court heard that these offences had been committed as far back as 2012, but Riley only appeared in court this year to face justice.

Throughout the proceedings, Riley’s wife, Julie, and their two daughters have stood by him, despite the gravity of his actions. His defense lawyer, Barbara Webster, highlighted that Riley’s offending had severely impacted his family life, noting that he had only been able to see his young granddaughter once or twice since the offences came to light.

Judge Recorder Richard Pratt, QC, sentenced Riley to a community order, requiring him to complete a rigorous Northumbria sex offenders course over the next three years. Additionally, Riley was ordered to pay £500 in prosecution costs, sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years, and adhere to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order that restricts his internet usage. The judge expressed his disapproval of Riley’s actions, emphasizing that his family’s willingness to forgive was a rare and fortunate circumstance given the severity of his crimes.