PAUL KELLY FROM BURSTLEM CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AGAIN IN STAFFORDSHIRE

In a disturbing development, Paul Kelly, a resident of Burslem, has once again found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving child abuse images. The 61-year-old man has admitted to creating two indecent pseudo images of a minor, reigniting concerns about his previous offenses and ongoing risk to the community.

Kelly's criminal history is well-documented. In 2018, he served an eight-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to three charges related to the production of indecent images of children and possession of a prohibited image. Despite this prior conviction, Kelly's actions did not cease, and law enforcement authorities continued their efforts to monitor his activities.

In September 2022, during a routine visit to Kelly’s residence on Moorland Road in Burslem, an officer from Staffordshire Police’s sex offender management unit conducted a standard check. During this visit, the officer was handed Kelly’s iPhone 14, which was subsequently examined. The investigation revealed two disturbing images depicting a child under the age of 16. One of these images included a photograph of a girl’s face superimposed onto a different body, a clear indication of the disturbing nature of the material Kelly possessed.

Following these findings, the case was brought before the North Staffordshire Justice Centre. Paige Morgan, representing Kelly, requested that the magistrates adjourn the proceedings to allow for a pre-sentence report to be prepared. Morgan highlighted that Kelly suffers from mental health issues and is currently on antidepressants, which she argued rendered him unfit for employment. The magistrates agreed to transfer the case to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for further proceedings. Kelly’s bail was extended, allowing him to remain free until his next court appearance, which is scheduled for a date to be fixed.

Kelly’s criminal record is extensive. In November 2018, he was sentenced to eight months in prison after being found guilty of downloading hundreds of indecent images of children over a span of more than a decade. Police had executed a warrant at his Moorland Road residence, seizing his laptop, phone, and several CDs. These devices were examined and revealed images classified as Category A, the most severe level of child abuse material. The investigation uncovered that Kelly had used explicit search terms such as ‘pre teen’ during his online activity.

During the court proceedings, Recorder Rebecca Herbert described the material found on Kelly’s devices as “absolutely appalling,” emphasizing that it included images of very young children being raped. Kelly pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of children between March 3, 2005, and August 17, 2017, as well as possession of a prohibited image. The judge sentenced him to an additional eight months imprisonment, underscoring the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing threat he poses to society.