OWEN THORNELL FROM ILKLEY SENTENCED AFTER CHILD INDECENT IMAGES FOUND ON COMPUTER

In a case that has shocked the local community of Ilkley, Owen Thornell, a 30-year-old resident of Back Weston Road, faced serious allegations after authorities discovered indecent images of children stored on his personal computer. The incident came to light during an investigation that revealed Thornell possessed a total of 75 images, with 70 classified as level one, indicating the least severe category, and five images categorized at level four, which is considered more serious on a scale of one to five.

Details emerged during a court hearing at Bradford Crown Court, where it was disclosed that an internet chat log dating back to June 2009 was recovered. This log contained exchanges between Thornell and another individual, in which Thornell was explicitly asked to send photographs of young boys. Such communications underscored the disturbing nature of the case and the extent of Thornell’s involvement.

Thornell pleaded guilty to charges of downloading and possessing indecent images of children, as well as distributing three of these images. In response, the court sentenced him to a three-year community order, which includes supervision and a requirement to participate in high-intensity activity programs aimed at rehabilitation.

Furthermore, Thornell was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of five years, a measure intended to monitor his activities and prevent further offenses. The court acknowledged that Thornell was dealing with personal issues, including depression, which may have contributed to his actions. Nonetheless, the severity of the crimes led to a firm legal response, reflecting the ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims.