PIERLUIGI DURNDELL CAUGHT WITH OVER 29,500 CHILD IMAGES IN FREELAND ESCAPES JAIL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Freeland, police uncovered a significant cache of illegal material linked to a local resident, Pierluigi Durndell, a 57-year-old man with a troubling history of possessing indecent images of children. The incident unfolded in June of the previous year when authorities traced online activity to a unit located on Wroslyn Road industrial estate in Freeland, near Witney.

According to reports, police detected suspicious downloading activity involving indecent images and videos of minors, which prompted a swift investigation. On June 21, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the premises, described as a small and squalid living space, where they found Durndell residing. During the raid, officers discovered a substantial collection of illegal material, including 58 DVDs containing explicit content involving children, as well as a variety of digital files.

The investigation revealed that Durndell had amassed an astonishing total of more than 29,500 images and over 4,600 videos depicting children as young as three years old. Additionally, authorities found an extreme image of an animal, further highlighting the disturbing nature of his collection. Prosecutor Simon Foster told Oxford Crown Court that the defendant had admitted to possessing three counts of indecent photographs of a child, three counts of making such photographs, possession of an extreme pornographic image, and possession of a prohibited image of a child.

While the prosecution considered pursuing a charge related to a 170-page paedophile manual containing tips on abusing children, they ultimately decided to leave that count on file, choosing not to proceed with it at this stage.

Judge Ian Pringle QC sentenced Durndell to 16 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. The court also ordered him to participate in a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and complete 120 hours of unpaid community service. Furthermore, Durndell was issued a sexual harm prevention order, required to pay a victim surcharge, and mandated to register as a sex offender. The case has left many in Freeland and the surrounding areas deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of children, emphasizing the importance of ongoing vigilance and law enforcement efforts to combat such heinous crimes.