SKIPTON ARTIST JOHN YARWOOD SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN NORTH YORKSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the local community of Skipton, an artist named John Andrew Yarwood has been convicted of possessing a significant collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light after police executed a warrant at his residence on Belgrave Street on April 21. During the search, officers discovered an array of inappropriate images stored on his computer, which Yarwood later admitted to downloading and viewing between March and April of that year.

Yarwood, aged 43, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in fine art and makes his living as an artist. He resides on the top floor of his family home, living with his elderly mother. The court was informed that the images found ranged in severity from level one, which depicted boys in partial to full nudity, to level four, which included images of sexual abuse involving adults. This spectrum of images raised serious concerns about the nature of Yarwood’s collection.

Prosecutor Mark Haigh outlined that police, upon entering Yarwood’s residence with a warrant, observed a variety of images in his bedroom. The seized computer was subsequently analyzed, revealing that Yarwood had downloaded a substantial number of these images. Yarwood admitted to the court that he had stored these files on his computer, claiming that his interest was purely artistic. He stated that he is a gay man with a focus on the male form and that his collection was intended solely for artistic purposes, not for sexual gratification.

However, the prosecution highlighted the contradiction in Yarwood’s claims, noting that some of the images were at levels three and four, which involve more explicit sexual content involving children. The court was told that Yarwood’s explanation did not align with the nature of the images, raising questions about his intentions.

During the hearing, Yarwood’s defense lawyer, John Mewies, emphasized his client’s profession as an artist and his educational background, asserting that Yarwood’s artistic pursuits were legitimate. Despite this, magistrates decided to impose a sentence of six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. Additionally, Yarwood was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of seven years and was required to pay court costs of £45. The magistrates also mandated that Yarwood be subject to a lifelong sexual offences prevention order, reflecting the seriousness of the case and the need for ongoing monitoring.