KEVIN MALONE FROM BIRKENHEAD SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN LIVERPOOL COURT

In a case that has shocked the community of Birkenhead and the wider Wirral area, Kevin Malone, a 39-year-old resident of Townsend Street in Birkenhead, faced serious allegations related to the possession and viewing of indecent images of children. The investigation was initiated after police authorities uncovered Malone’s involvement in accessing illegal content on a child pornography website where users were charged for viewing such material.

Authorities traced Malone’s details during an investigation into a website based in Belarus, which was dedicated to hosting and distributing abusive images. It was revealed that Malone had used a credit card to pay for access to this site, further implicating him in the illegal activity. The police action culminated in a raid on Malone’s residence in Birkenhead, where he was immediately forthcoming with investigators. During questioning, Malone admitted to collecting the obscene images, expressing surprise at the sheer volume of material he had accumulated.

Expert analysis of the digital evidence uncovered a staggering total of 6,355 images and videos. Among these, 338 pictures were classified as category four, indicating a high level of severity in terms of content. The authorities confirmed that Malone’s collection included material that was particularly disturbing and classified under the second most serious category of indecency.

At Liverpool Crown Court, the case was presided over by Judge Henry Globe, QC, who considered the full extent of Malone’s actions and the mitigating circumstances presented. Despite the gravity of the charges, the judge decided to suspend a 52-week jail sentence for a period of two years. This decision was influenced by Malone’s “abundant mitigation,” including the fact that he had spent a significant amount of time “in limbo,” awaiting the outcome of legal proceedings. The court noted that Malone had made a full confession back in December 2008, but he was only formally charged in January of the following year and first appeared in court in March.

Judge Globe acknowledged the emotional toll the case had taken on Malone, stating, “It’s no wonder he’s been depressed. One has to balance the seriousness of the offence against the punishment which comes from the defendant not knowing what is going to be the outcome of any proceedings which are eventually going to be taken against him.”

Malone was convicted on 13 counts of making indecent images, with offences spanning from October 2007 to December 2008. In addition to the suspended sentence, the judge ordered Malone to undergo two years of supervision and attend the Northumbria Sex Offenders’ Programme. He was also mandated to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years and was subject to an indefinite Sexual Offenders’ Prevention Order, which prohibits him from owning or using a computer or any related software.

During the hearing, Malone’s defense team, represented by Trevor Parry-Jones, highlighted that a psychiatrist had assessed him as possibly suffering from manic depression, which may have influenced his actions. The case underscores the ongoing concerns about online child exploitation and the importance of rigorous law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes.