LEIGH KELLSALL CAUGHT IN TALKE WITH HUNDREDS OF INDECENT CHILD IMAGES

In December 2011, a serious case involving Leigh Kelsall, a resident of Talke, came to light when he was found to have downloaded a significant number of indecent images of children. Kelsall, aged 40 and a long-time resident of Woodshutts Street in Talke, has been married for 17 years and is a father to four children. His actions, which stemmed from curiosity and boredom, have led to a court hearing that highlighted the severity of his offenses.

According to the proceedings at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, the case was initiated after Staffordshire Police received intelligence from the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre (CEOP). On July 23, police officers visited Kelsall’s residence in Talke, but he was not present at the time. His wife, however, permitted the officers to conduct a search of their home. During the search, the police seized computers belonging to Kelsall, including a laptop used exclusively by him, and also visited his workplace to confiscate his work computer.

Forensic analysis of these devices revealed disturbing evidence. The laptop from his home contained a total of 19 images classified at level one, seven at level three, one at level four, and one at level five—the latter being the most serious category. Meanwhile, his work computer held a far larger collection: 81 images at level one, one at level two, 54 at level three, 160 at level four, and 12 at level five. These findings indicated a pattern of possession of increasingly serious material.

Kelsall was arrested on August 22. During police interviews, he confirmed his address but chose to answer 'no comment' to all other questions. Despite the lack of prior convictions, Kelsall faced multiple charges related to the possession of indecent images of children. He ultimately pleaded guilty to nine charges, acknowledging his involvement and responsibility.

In mitigation, lawyer Anis Ali emphasized that Kelsall had taken responsibility for his actions by admitting guilt early in the process. Ali stated that Kelsall deeply regrets his offending and highlighted his family situation, noting that he has been married for 17 years and is responsible for four young children. The support of his family remains intact, and Kelsall has expressed a willingness to undergo structured intervention programs to address his behavior.

Ali explained that Kelsall’s offending was not deliberate but driven by curiosity and boredom, suggesting that his motivations require further exploration and treatment. He also pointed out that Kelsall has already spent 111 days in remand and that re-offending could jeopardize his family’s support.

Judge Granville Styler acknowledged the seriousness of the case, stating that it clearly met the threshold for custody. Had Kelsall been convicted after a trial, the judge indicated he would have faced a 12-month prison sentence, which could be reduced to eight months due to his guilty plea. Given that Kelsall has already served nearly four months, the judge decided that a community order would serve justice better.

The court imposed a community order lasting three years, which includes supervision and participation in a community sex offender group work program. Kelsall was also disqualified from working with children and will be registered as a sex offender for five years. Judge Styler warned Kelsall that any future offenses involving the downloading of child images could result in a lengthy prison sentence, emphasizing that the number of high-level images found was an aggravating factor in the case.