LEEDS PENSIONER PETER CLIFF FOUND WITH OVER 2,000 ABUSIVE IMAGES OF CHILDREN
In July 2014, a Leeds man named Peter Cliff, aged 65, a retired businessman and great grandfather, was discovered to have downloaded more than 2,000 abusive images of children after police seized computers from his home on Leeds Road, Scholes.A court heard that Cliff admitted to officers that he had been viewing these illegal images for years while at his home with his wife.
Leeds Crown Court was told that police became aware of Cliff’s activities after a legitimate website was hacked in 2011, resulting in indecent images of children being uploaded.
On May 25 of the previous year, police visited Cliff’s residence and confiscated his computer equipment.
Forensic examination revealed the presence of 2,574 illegal images and 39 movies.
The court noted that 79 images were classified as level four and nine as level five, indicating the most serious categories of such offending.
It was also revealed that Cliff had conducted internet searches using terms like ‘little girls’ and ‘nymphettes’.
Prosecutor Stephanie Hancock explained that some of the images depicted babies being horrifically abused.
During police interviews, Cliff stated that he had been viewing these images on a regular basis at his home and claimed he did not believe he was contributing to the abuse because he had not paid for the material.
Cliff pleaded guilty to 21 charges of making indecent photographs of children.
His defense lawyer, Anthony Sugare, highlighted his client’s background, saying, “This is a 65-year-old man without any previous convictions.
He is totally and thoroughly disgusted and ashamed by his behavior.
He has not only brought shame upon himself and his good name but also his wife and family.” Sugare added, “He has had an industrious business life.
It is totally out of character for him.” The judge, Penelope Belcher, sentenced Cliff to a three-year community and supervision order and mandated that he be registered as a sex offender for five years.
She remarked, “You said that because you had not paid for the images you were not in any way responsible for viewing these images.
Do not kid yourself that you have not contributed to their abuse because you plainly have.”
