RICHARD WILLIS FROM QUARRINGTON AND SLEAFORD CAUGHT IN CHILD INDECENCY SCANDAL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Sleaford and Quarrington, Richard Willis, a 51-year-old former councillor and resident of Cuthbert Close in Quarrington, has been convicted of serious charges related to the distribution and creation of indecent images of children. The case came to light after a detailed investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which uncovered a disturbing network of child abuse material shared between Willis and other individuals.

According to court records, Willis faced multiple charges, including three counts of distributing indecent images of children, two counts of making such images, and an additional charge of taking indecent images of minors. The investigation revealed that Willis had engaged in the exchange of numerous child abuse images via social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. These messages not only contained the images but also involved discussions about sexual preferences related to children, further highlighting the severity of his actions.

Willis’s criminal activities were uncovered during a broader investigation into child exploitation. The NCA had previously arrested Matthew Sephton, a 42-year-old former Trafford Councillor representing Altrincham, in December 2016. During the raid, authorities seized his phones and computer devices, which forensic analysis later revealed contained thousands of indecent images of children, some classified in the most severe category of sexual abuse material. The investigation also uncovered that Sephton was a member of various online groups dedicated to sharing such images, and he used chat applications to communicate with others involved in this illegal activity.

Among the messages recovered from Sephton’s devices were exchanges with Richard Willis, the former Sleaford Town Councillor. These messages included multiple child abuse images and explicit discussions about their sexual interests. The evidence was presented at Minshull Street Crown Court, where Willis admitted to three charges of distributing indecent images, two charges of making such images, and one charge of taking indecent images of children. In June 2017, Willis was sentenced to 16 months in prison, placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, and issued a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Sephton, who resided on Maximus Drive in Altrincham, denied the charges, claiming that a man named ‘Tom’ was responsible for downloading the images and sending the messages. Despite extensive efforts by the NCA to identify and locate ‘Tom,’ no evidence was found to support his existence or involvement.

On the most recent court date, also held at Minshull Street Crown Court, Sephton was found guilty of six counts related to the creation, possession, and distribution of indecent images of children. He was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison and will be registered as a sex offender for life. The case has brought to light the disturbing extent of online child exploitation and the importance of ongoing investigations to combat such heinous crimes in communities like Sleaford and Quarrington.