ROY WIDDOWSON FROM LEICESTER JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN LEICESTER
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Leicester, Roy Widdowson, a 65-year-old resident of Hinckley Road, was sentenced to a 10-month prison term after being found guilty of possessing and downloading a vast collection of indecent images of children.The investigation into Widdowson’s activities was initiated when an associate discovered a collection of illicit material stored on CDs and DVDs, which contained images of naked girls aged between 10 and 12 years old.
These images, which Widdowson admitted to downloading, amounted to a staggering total of over 1,500 indecent pictures.
The police search revealed that the material was categorized into various levels of severity, with 1,375 images and 18 movies classified at level one, 170 images and two movies at level two, 78 images at level three, 188 at level four, and a disturbing 24 images at the highest, level five, indicating the most serious category of abuse.
During the sentencing at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Philip Head addressed the court and expressed his grave concern over the extent and duration of Widdowson’s offending.
He stated, “Your offending spanned a nine-year period.
It ended on February 28 when you moved out of a hostel and told an acquaintance he could keep what he found.
He found CDs and DVDs of girls exposing themselves and alerted the police who then searched your computer.” The judge highlighted the disturbing nature of the images, noting that a significant proportion of the victims depicted were only 10 years old.
Furthermore, the investigation uncovered that some images involved even younger children being subjected to abuse.
Judge Head emphasized the lasting impact such exploitation has on victims, saying, “The impact on the victims, for the rest of their lives, of being treated in this way cannot be imagined.” He also condemned the ongoing demand for such material, stating, “People like you, who download and use them, keep this trade going.” The court was informed that Widdowson’s motives may have been linked to personal emotional difficulties, but the severity and quantity of the material left no choice but to impose a custodial sentence in the public interest.
In mitigation, Carl Gaskell acknowledged Widdowson’s willingness to confront his offending and expressed regret for his actions.
As part of the court’s order, Widdowson was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, which grants authorities the power to monitor and restrict his future use of computers.
Additionally, he is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with females under the age of 16 and will be required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, ensuring ongoing oversight of his activities.
