MARC BULL SHOCKS BARROW AND CLAYTON WITH CHILD PORN SENTENCE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Barrow and Clayton, a man named Marc Bull has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing a large collection of indecent images involving children. The investigation revealed that Bull, aged 29, had accumulated over 1,600 illicit photographs over a span of five years, images that depicted some of the most severe forms of abuse against young children and infants.

Authorities conducted a raid on his residence in Dowie Close, Barrow, on July 7, 2009. During the search, police seized multiple pieces of computer equipment and discovered that Bull had accessed and downloaded a significant number of illegal images. The police investigation uncovered that some of these images were classified at the highest levels of severity, specifically levels four and five, indicating the most serious types of abuse. In total, 126 images fell into these categories, with additional images spread across levels three, two, and one, illustrating a disturbing pattern of behavior.

Prosecutor Duncan Birrell explained that police had intelligence suggesting Bull used his credit card to pay for access to websites hosting indecent images of children. During police interviews, Bull admitted responsibility for all the images found on his devices. The court was informed that even while awaiting sentencing, Bull continued to download adult gay pornography, demonstrating a continued pattern of inappropriate behavior.

Judge Beverly Lunt, presiding over Preston Crown Court, sentenced Bull to 14 months in prison. She also imposed a ten-year ban on any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the same duration. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the images, noting that some involved infants and very young children. She expressed concern over Bull’s comments during a probation interview, which revealed an unhealthy interest in boys aged 13 and older, and highlighted his continued access to adult gay pornography while awaiting sentencing.

Defense counsel Gareth James argued that only a small percentage of the images were of the highest severity and that Bull’s online activity was primarily focused on adult pornography. He suggested that a lengthy community order might serve the public interest better by providing Bull with education and psychological help.

However, Judge Lunt made it clear that the gravity of the crimes warranted imprisonment. She stated, “I would be failing in my duty to punish you and deter others if I didn’t send you to prison. These are serious images, some involving infants, not just young children. Your comments to a probation officer also cause grave concern, as they confirm an unhealthy interest in boys aged 13 and above. You have continued to access adult gay porn while awaiting sentence.”

A police spokesperson from Cumbria emphasized the importance of this case, warning that downloading indecent images of children is a crime with real victims. The spokesperson stated, “This sentence highlights the consequences of such actions. Downloading these images supports the physical and sexual abuse of children worldwide. Modern technology makes it easier than ever to track down individuals involved in viewing and sharing such material.”