PAUL BATTERSBY FROM SKIPTON INVOLVED IN CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES CASE AT YORK CROWN COURT

In August 2021, Paul Battersby, a former vicar residing in Skipton, was sentenced to a four-year prison term at York Crown Court after being found guilty of possessing a significant number of child sex abuse images. The court heard that police had uncovered a total of 832 indecent images on Battersby’s internet-enabled devices, which included graphic photographs of girls as young as two years old, as well as images depicting adults engaging in sexual acts with animals. These disturbing findings came to light during an unannounced police raid on his residence, which was conducted as part of ongoing investigations into his previous offences from 2017.

Authorities had previously linked Battersby to similar criminal activities, prompting the police to act swiftly. The judge presiding over the case, Simon Hickey, described Battersby as a “dangerous offender,” emphasizing the severity of his actions. Battersby, who has been married twice and served as a vicar for over three decades across various churches in northern England, has a long history of convictions related to child exploitation and indecent images. His first known offence occurred in April 2007 when he was caught after his wife reported discovering indecent images on their family computer, which had been seen by his 17-year-old stepson.

Following this initial incident, Battersby was found to have violated a court order that monitored his internet usage in 2009. The following year, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison after authorities discovered 160 obscene images of children on a laptop used to coordinate missionary activities for the Church of England. His criminal record further deepened in 2017 when police raided his Liverpool flat and found a shoebox filled with children’s clothing alongside a staggering 1,730 indecent images of minors he had downloaded. During this raid, disturbing literature authored by Battersby himself was also recovered, revealing a disturbing fixation with child abuse fantasies.

Most recently, in October 2020, Battersby’s activities came under scrutiny again. Evidence presented in court indicated that he had employed software to attempt to erase data from his laptop, but investigators found that his device contained searches related to young and pre-pubescent girls. The court was told that Battersby had pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent images of children, possession of prohibited images, possession of extreme pornography, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. As part of his sentencing, he was ordered to serve four years in prison, with an extended licence period of three years. Additionally, he was subjected to a new sexual harm prevention order and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Paul Battersby, whose address is listed as Spencer Walk, Skipton, admitted to the offences during proceedings. His guilty plea covered the possession of images categorized as A, B, and C, with the most serious Category A images being 121 in number. The court also noted that he possessed 183 prohibited images of children, along with extreme animal pornography. His criminal history includes previous convictions from 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, each involving similar offences related to child exploitation and indecent images. His earlier offences involved being turned in by his wife after his stepson discovered disturbing content on their computer, leading to suspended sentences, community orders, and periods of supervision.

In a related case from 2017, Battersby was found to have downloaded a further 1,730 indecent images over a period spanning from November 2014 to January 2017. Police also discovered a collection of children’s clothing and disturbing fantasy literature on his computer, which he had authored himself. Prosecutors highlighted that Battersby’s collection of images was meticulously categorized and stored, indicating a premeditated and organized approach to his offending. His background as a former national youth officer for the Church of England and his long-standing ministry did little to mitigate the gravity of his crimes, which spanned over a decade.

Throughout his criminal history, Battersby’s actions have repeatedly demonstrated a pattern of predatory behavior. His initial arrest in 2007 was triggered by his family’s discovery of illicit images, leading to a suspended sentence and probation. Despite this, he continued to access and download indecent images, often under pseudonyms such as “Tanker,” and breached court orders multiple times. His case underscores the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of such offences, especially those with a background in religious and community leadership roles. The court’s decision to impose a lengthy custodial sentence and strict registration requirements reflects the seriousness with which the justice system treats such violations and the protection of vulnerable children from potential harm.