MICHAEL GLEAVE FROM WARRINGTON CAUGHT WITH OVER 18,000 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN LIVERPOOL COURT
In March 2017, a disturbing case unfolded at Liverpool Crown Court involving Michael Gleave, a resident of Warrington, who was found to possess an alarming collection of indecent images of children.Gleave, aged 30, admitted to police that his illicit activity spanned over two decades, beginning when he was just 10 years old.
He explained that the ease of access to such material online significantly contributed to his ongoing obsession, describing the images as 'too easy to find' and stating that this accessibility 'fed the compulsion' he felt, which was driven by the thrill of viewing content that was considered taboo.
Despite the severity of his actions, Gleave was not sentenced to immediate imprisonment.
The court heard that he had amassed a total of more than 18,000 indecent images, many of which were classified in the lowest category, depicting children either naked or partially clothed.
However, the investigation also uncovered that Gleave possessed nearly 1,100 images showing children being sexually abused, a fact that added to the gravity of his offences.
During police questioning, Gleave admitted to using peer-to-peer file sharing software to obtain the images, emphasizing how accessible and easy to find such material was.
He also revealed that he had taken photographs of unsuspecting children in a paddling pool, capturing them in swimwear and states of undress.
These images were seized during a police raid on his home in October of the previous year, along with his computer and photographic equipment.
The forensic examination confirmed the presence of the illicit material, most of which involved young girls aged between five and 12.
Additionally, Gleave had sent a picture of a naked girl via Instagram, further illustrating his disturbing behavior.
Prosecutor Chris Taylor highlighted that Gleave's interest was primarily in children in states of undress, which was evident from the material found.
The court was told that the images included photographs of children in swimwear and partial nudity, with some showing them in a paddling pool.
The investigation revealed that Gleave's activities extended beyond mere possession, as he also distributed one image through social media.
Gleave pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of downloading indecent images, one count of taking indecent photographs, distributing an image via Instagram, and possessing a total of 18,102 images.
Judge Alan Conrad, QC, described his admissions as 'disturbing in the extreme' and emphasized the depravity involved in circulating such material.
The judge noted that the circulation of these images was driven by the desire of individuals like Gleave to view such depraved content, suggesting that without an audience, such material would not be produced.
While the children photographed in the paddling pool did not need to be interviewed by police, the judge expressed concern that Gleave's actions could have provoked violence from their parents.
As part of his sentence, Gleave was handed an 18-month prison term, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to attend a sex offenders' rehabilitation course, adhere to a four-month curfew from 9 pm to 6 am, and sign the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.
Furthermore, the court imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which banned Gleave from establishing any photographic business, a plan he had previously considered.
The court's decision underscores the serious nature of his offences and the measures taken to prevent further harm.
