JESMOND PAEDOPHILE MICHAEL WILLIAMS/McNEIL SENTENCED AFTER CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL
| Red Rose Database
Jesmond Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Jesmond, Michael Williams, also known as McNeil, has been found guilty of possessing and sharing abhorrent images depicting child sexual abuse. The 57-year-old resident of Lansdowne Gardens was involved in a sickening online activity that spanned several years, during which he collected and distributed hundreds of illicit images involving children as young as five to seven years old.
According to court proceedings, Williams openly expressed his disturbing views online, sending messages to other individuals with similar perverted interests. In one such message, he stated, "I wish I was born in a country where it’s ok to be a paedophile," revealing his troubling mindset. He also sent messages saying, "I like we are both paedophiles," further indicating his willingness to connect with others who shared his reprehensible inclinations.
The court heard that Williams amassed a total of more than 600 illegal images and videos, which included some of the most severe categories of child exploitation material. Of these, he distributed 107 images to other users via Skype, a popular messaging platform. His criminal activities came to light when police executed a search warrant at his home in June 2020, seizing four electronic devices, including an external hard drive, a USB stick, and two laptops. These devices were found to contain a vast array of unlawful content, with police uncovering 83 Category A images, 88 Category B images, and 458 Category C images. Among the Category B videos, three were moving images, indicating the presence of videos rather than just static images.
Prosecutor John Hobley detailed the extent of Williams' offending, emphasizing that the distribution of illegal material was ongoing between March 2016 and June 2020, with the initial downloading of the material occurring between September 2014 and June 2020. The police investigation revealed that Williams had shared 107 Category C images with other users on Skype, further highlighting the extent of his involvement in the distribution of child abuse images.
Williams appeared before Newcastle Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child and one count of distributing such images. His guilty plea spared him from a potential prison sentence, and instead, he was sentenced to a three-year community order. Additionally, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years, which imposes restrictions aimed at preventing further offending.
Judge Christopher Prince addressed Williams during sentencing, stating, "You had the good sense to plead guilty to all these offences at the first opportunity. You have not sought to deny what you have done and you have admitted what you have done and you have been full and frank in your discussions." The judge also acknowledged Williams' efforts to address his issues since his arrest but made it clear that he held no sympathy for his actions. He remarked, "I have no sympathy for you whatsoever. I have heard about your background and alcoholism but there are plenty of people with your background and plenty of people who are suffering from alcoholism who don’t behave in the way you have."
As part of his sentence, Williams is required to register as a sex offender for five years, a measure designed to monitor and prevent any potential reoffending. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against online child exploitation and the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes in communities like Jesmond and beyond.
According to court proceedings, Williams openly expressed his disturbing views online, sending messages to other individuals with similar perverted interests. In one such message, he stated, "I wish I was born in a country where it’s ok to be a paedophile," revealing his troubling mindset. He also sent messages saying, "I like we are both paedophiles," further indicating his willingness to connect with others who shared his reprehensible inclinations.
The court heard that Williams amassed a total of more than 600 illegal images and videos, which included some of the most severe categories of child exploitation material. Of these, he distributed 107 images to other users via Skype, a popular messaging platform. His criminal activities came to light when police executed a search warrant at his home in June 2020, seizing four electronic devices, including an external hard drive, a USB stick, and two laptops. These devices were found to contain a vast array of unlawful content, with police uncovering 83 Category A images, 88 Category B images, and 458 Category C images. Among the Category B videos, three were moving images, indicating the presence of videos rather than just static images.
Prosecutor John Hobley detailed the extent of Williams' offending, emphasizing that the distribution of illegal material was ongoing between March 2016 and June 2020, with the initial downloading of the material occurring between September 2014 and June 2020. The police investigation revealed that Williams had shared 107 Category C images with other users on Skype, further highlighting the extent of his involvement in the distribution of child abuse images.
Williams appeared before Newcastle Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child and one count of distributing such images. His guilty plea spared him from a potential prison sentence, and instead, he was sentenced to a three-year community order. Additionally, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years, which imposes restrictions aimed at preventing further offending.
Judge Christopher Prince addressed Williams during sentencing, stating, "You had the good sense to plead guilty to all these offences at the first opportunity. You have not sought to deny what you have done and you have admitted what you have done and you have been full and frank in your discussions." The judge also acknowledged Williams' efforts to address his issues since his arrest but made it clear that he held no sympathy for his actions. He remarked, "I have no sympathy for you whatsoever. I have heard about your background and alcoholism but there are plenty of people with your background and plenty of people who are suffering from alcoholism who don’t behave in the way you have."
As part of his sentence, Williams is required to register as a sex offender for five years, a measure designed to monitor and prevent any potential reoffending. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against online child exploitation and the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes in communities like Jesmond and beyond.