MARK MCVITIE SHAMES BLACKBURN WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Blackburn, Mark Andrew McVitie, a former pop band drummer turned college lecturer, has been linked to the possession and distribution of a significant amount of child pornography. The revelation came to light after police raids uncovered over 1,200 explicit images stored on floppy disks at his residence in Blackburn, where he was employed part-time at Blackburn College.

McVitie, aged 30 and residing on Clarendon Road East in Blackburn, was formally charged with 20 counts related to internet child pornography. The investigation revealed that some of the images were classified as 'extreme,' indicating a high level of graphic content. Authorities also discovered that McVitie had accessed 16 different internet sites, including one based in Moscow, which required payment for registration. The police seized a total of 51 discs containing the illicit material, which they confirmed included a variety of child pornography images.

During the court proceedings at Blackburn Magistrates' Court, the prosecution emphasized the deliberate nature of McVitie’s actions. Prosecutor John Wood stated that the images were not the result of accidental exposure but were intentionally downloaded and stored on disks. He explained that the police investigation found McVitie had used multiple websites, including one in Moscow where he paid to register, although it was not confirmed whether any images originated from that site.

Mr. Wood further clarified that all 1,200 images depicted children in various stages of sexual exploitation, with some being particularly graphic and extreme. The police investigation also revealed that McVitie’s activities involved the use of the internet to access these images, but there was no evidence to suggest any physical abuse of children by him or that he had shared the material publicly.

In his defense, lawyer Michael Blacklidge argued that McVitie’s actions took place within the privacy of his own home and that there was no evidence of any direct harm or inappropriate behavior towards children. He emphasized that McVitie’s role was limited to viewing and downloading the images, with no further dissemination or posting of the material online. Blacklidge also noted that McVitie was unaware of the origins or history of the images he accessed.

Blacklidge provided background on McVitie’s life, stating that after completing an engineering apprenticeship, he formed a band with friends that achieved some success. The band, named Bradford, was based in Blackburn and gained recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They supported Morrissey during his comeback at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in 1988 and released several singles and an album titled 'Shouting Quietly.' The band was considered promising, with their debut single 'Skin Storm' released on Bolton-based Village Records, and their demo tape praised by Mick Middles, author of the Smiths biography.

Following the band's dissolution, McVitie returned to college and later pursued a career teaching English as a second language, primarily to mature students. At the time of his arrest, he was working up to 25 hours a week at Blackburn College. However, due to the severity of the charges, McVitie has now been placed on the sex offenders register and will be barred from working with young people. The magistrates decided that the six months’ custody available to them was insufficient, and he was committed to Crown Court for sentencing.

The case has cast a shadow over Blackburn’s community, raising concerns about the safety and oversight of individuals working within educational institutions. The authorities continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance and the need for strict measures to prevent such disturbing cases from recurring.