KELLY AGNEW FROM BOTCHERBY FACES JUSTICE OVER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND BESTIALITY VIDEOS IN CARLISLE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Carlisle, Kelly Louise Agnew, a 39-year-old woman from Botcherby, was found to possess a collection of heinous child abuse images, including videos depicting the abuse of a one-year-old child. The revelation of her secret stash of illegal material has brought to light the disturbing extent of her online activities.

Her offending was uncovered in January of the previous year when police officers visited her residence on Borland Avenue in Botcherby. During the raid, authorities seized two electronic devices from her home, which contained a total of 11 illegal images—both still photographs and videos—showing children in various states of abuse. The Crown Court in Carlisle heard that among these images, three were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of child exploitation. Despite the gravity of these images, Agnew had not opened or viewed them at the time of her arrest, and she subsequently deleted all the material from her devices.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke explained that Agnew claimed ignorance about her actions, suggesting that her behavior might have been influenced by alcohol consumption. She reportedly told investigators that the images of children had been sent to her during online interactions with a man, during which they discussed child abuse in a context of fantasy. Burke also noted that Agnew admitted to being a frequent viewer of online pornography, which may have contributed to her offending.

In addition to her possession of child abuse images, Agnew, who now resides at Merrick Terrace in Portpatrick, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including making indecent photographs of children, publishing obscene material, and possessing extreme pornography. Her defense lawyer, Jack Troup, emphasized her genuine remorse and highlighted her struggles with prolonged and untreated depression, which may have played a role in her actions.

Judge Recorder Philip Grundy sentenced Agnew to a two-year community order, which includes 50 days of rehabilitation activities. During the sentencing, the judge remarked on the profound impact her actions have had on her life, noting that her entire world had been turned upside down. He acknowledged her efforts to relocate away from the Carlisle area but pointed out that she continues to face the vitriol, abuse, and hate from the public, which serve as constant reminders of her crimes.

As part of her sentence, Agnew will be required to register as a sex offender for a period of five years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of her activities and compliance with legal restrictions.

Earlier in January 2021, Agnew had already admitted to downloading child sexual abuse images and sharing a video of herself engaging in a sexual act with a dog. She appeared before Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to five separate charges related to these offenses. The charges included three counts of downloading indecent images of children, which spanned various categories, including the most serious Category A images depicting rape and torture of young children. The other charges involved her publishing a video of herself performing a sexual act with a dog and possessing 32 extreme pornographic images involving animals.

Prosecutor George Shelley indicated that the typical starting point for an offender caught with Category A child abuse images would be a minimum of one year in jail. However, given the severity of her offenses, the magistrates recognized that their sentencing powers were insufficient to impose an appropriate sentence. Consequently, they ordered that her case be transferred to Carlisle Crown Court for sentencing on February 2.

In court, Agnew confirmed her identity and admitted all charges without contest. The magistrates also informed her that her name would be automatically entered onto the Sex Offenders’ Register, a legal requirement for individuals convicted of such offenses. Meanwhile, the Probation Service will prepare a comprehensive background report to assist the Crown Court in determining an appropriate sentence. Agnew was represented by defense lawyer Chris Toms during the proceedings, and her case continues to draw attention due to the disturbing nature of her crimes and the ongoing legal process.