PETER EVANS FROM WINSFORD ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

In April 2011, a resident of Winsford named Peter Evans, aged 54, faced a sentencing hearing at Chester Crown Court following serious allegations related to child exploitation materials. Evans was charged with possessing a significant collection of indecent images of children, amounting to 1,126 photographs and a video stored on his computer's hard drive. The charges stemmed from an incident where he admitted to the possession of these illicit materials on March 7 of that year.

During the court proceedings, Judge Thomas Teague addressed Evans directly, acknowledging the gravity of the charges. Despite Evans' admission of being 'addicted to pornography,' the judge emphasized that this did not mitigate the seriousness of his actions. Judge Teague explained that, given the circumstances, he could not justify a sentence exceeding the initial 12-month starting point. However, he also took into account Evans' prompt guilty plea, which merited a four-month reduction, and noted that Evans might serve only half of the remaining eight months in custody.

Judge Teague expressed concern that Evans would be released without receiving adequate support or intervention for his issues if he were imprisoned. He stated, “It is clearly very serious because people like you facilitate the use of young children.” The judge further highlighted that the risk Evans posed to children could be more effectively mitigated through participation in specialized sex offender rehabilitation programs, specifically referencing the Northumbria Sex Offender Programme.

After considering all factors, Judge Teague decided that a community-based sentence would serve the public interest better than incarceration. Consequently, Evans was sentenced to a three-year supervised community order, which includes strict conditions and monitoring. He was also issued a sexual offences prevention order, required to attend a sex offender treatment program, and listed on the sex offenders register for five years. Additionally, Evans was disqualified from working with children, reflecting the severity of his offending.

Local law enforcement, represented by Constable Ross Hamilton from the Winsford Neighbourhood Policing Unit, commented on the case. He stated, “The conditions imposed in the sentence will enable his life to be carefully monitored and managed. These include restrictions which will remove his ability to use a computer except under stringent conditions.” He further emphasized that possessing indecent images of children is a crime with victims, asserting, “Our view is that people who look at this type of material share the guilt of those who abuse the children to create the original images.”