NORMAN ABRAHART FROM REDDITCH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD IMAGE CHARGES IN WYTHALL

In September 2013, a man from Wythall, identified as Norman Abrahart, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being convicted of multiple charges related to the creation and possession of indecent images of children. The case drew significant attention due to the serious nature of the offences and the legal proceedings that followed.

Norman Abrahart, aged 65 and residing on Three Oaks Road in Wythall, faced a series of charges that detailed his involvement in producing and storing indecent images and videos of minors. On August 13, he pleaded guilty to five separate offences, which included the creation of numerous images and videos classified under different levels of explicitness according to the court’s categorization system. The first charge involved the production of 22 images classified as level one, depicting children in erotic poses without sexual activity, between January 1, 2012, and July 26, 2012. The second charge related to the making of 15 level one videos of children within the same timeframe.

Further charges detailed the extent of his activities. On February 27, 2012, Abrahart was found to have created an additional 158 level one images. The most extensive charge involved the period from August 14, 2011, to July 26, 2012, during which he produced a staggering 549 level one images of children, along with one image classified as level three, which indicates a more graphic nature. The court explained that the levels of images range from level one, which involves non-sexualized erotic poses, to level five, which includes highly explicit and graphic content.

According to court records, police officers executed a search warrant at Abrahart’s residence in Wythall on July 26, 2012. During the raid, authorities seized a computer and mobile phones, which were subsequently sent for forensic analysis. It was revealed that the images and videos had been downloaded onto both devices, with the defendant reportedly intending to view them later. This evidence played a crucial role in establishing his guilt.

In the courtroom, magistrates acknowledged the gravity of the offences but also considered the circumstances surrounding the case. Abrahart was informed that he had come very close to receiving a custodial sentence; however, the bench decided to impose a 36-month community order instead. As part of this order, he is required to participate in a supervised sex offender treatment program. Additionally, he was ordered to pay costs amounting to £85, along with a £60 victim surcharge. Magistrates also mandated that he sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of five years.

Furthermore, the court ordered the destruction of the computer and mobile phones seized during the police raid to prevent any further misuse of the devices. The case highlighted the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, and the legal system’s approach to balancing punishment with rehabilitation for offenders like Abrahart.

In August 2013, prior to the sentencing, Abrahart appeared before Redditch magistrates, where he indicated his intention to plead guilty to charges involving more than 700 indecent images and videos of children. The total count included 729 level one images, 15 level one videos, and one level three image. The court scheduled a pre-sentence report hearing for September 4, 2013, to determine the appropriate sentence, which ultimately resulted in the community order rather than jail time.