RICHARD LIVERSIDGE SENTENCED IN PENKETH FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In April 2010, a man from Penketh named Richard Liversidge was sentenced following a serious case involving the possession of a large collection of indecent images of children. The police discovered that Liversidge, residing on Roeburn Way, had accumulated a staggering total of 33,861 indecent images along with 14 videos depicting children in various states of exploitation on his computer system.

His arrest in 2008 was triggered by an incident where he was attempting to purchase a video from a website that was under investigation since 2005. This attempt to buy illicit material was a key factor leading to his apprehension and subsequent charges. During the court proceedings at Warrington Crown Court, prosecutor David Jones clarified that the images found did not include the most extreme category, known as level five, and only six images fell into the level four category. The majority of the images were classified under the initial, less severe category.

Richard Liversidge, aged 41 at the time, pleaded guilty to all charges. It was noted that he had no prior criminal convictions, which played a role in the sentencing considerations. His defense lawyer, Phillip Martin, argued that Liversidge had been viewing these images over a period of more than five years. He suggested that a non-custodial sentence would be more appropriate, emphasizing that Liversidge was seeking treatment and had shown remorse.

Mr. Martin stated, “He has made full and frank admissions in interviews and started to address the problem.” The defense highlighted that Liversidge’s actions were driven by a long-term pattern of viewing such material, but there was no evidence to suggest he had taken any further steps beyond viewing images.

Judge David Hale addressed the court, expressing concern about the public's perception of such offenses. He acknowledged the significant number of images but clarified that most did not depict actual abuse involving physical contact. The judge remarked, “Looking at pictures of children in some coquettish pose is not a healthy thing for you to do but there’s not a hint or suggestion you took that interest any further than looking at images.”

While acknowledging the seriousness of the offense, Judge Hale emphasized that the majority of the images did not involve direct abuse. He explained that the public often expects prison sentences for such crimes, but he believed that the three-year community order, which includes participation in a sex offenders' course, would be more effective in preventing future offending. The course is considered one of the most successful programs run by the probation service.

As part of his sentence, Liversidge received a four-month prison sentence suspended for two years. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register, banned from working with children, and prohibited from using social networking sites or chat rooms for the next ten years. The court also commended police for their diligent handling of the case, recognizing their efforts in bringing the matter to justice and ensuring community safety.