CONVICTED WARWICKSHIRE SEX OFFENDER RYAN WOODHALL CAUGHT WITH INDECENT IMAGES AND BREACHED MULTIPLE ORDERS

In July 2015, Ryan Woodhall, a 32-year-old sex offender from Trinity Close, Warton, near Polesworth, was convicted after being found with indecent images of boys. He was already on a community order for breaching a sexual offences prevention order when he downloaded more illegal images.

The court learned that this was Woodhall's fourth breach of the order, which had initially been imposed for offences including creating indecent images. Recognizing his repeated violations, Judge Alan Parker described Woodhall as a danger to the public. Woodhall pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to five charges of making indecent still and moving images of children.

He was sentenced to a six-year extended sentence, consisting of a 12-month custodial period and a further five years on licence, and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

The case detailed that in April of the previous year, authorities responsible for monitoring Woodhall’s compliance became suspicious of his behaviour. Prosecutor Graeme Simpson reported, “When officers visited his home and inquired about indecent images, he replied that he was unsure but suspected there might be some on his computer.”

The police seized his computer, and its examination revealed a total of 333 indecent images—both still and moving—depicting boys estimated to be between 10 and 13 years old. Judge Parker highlighted the seriousness, stating, “He actually sought images of this kind involving boys of the age you refer to.”

Of these images, 87 fell into Category A, which involves children subjected to penetrative sex acts. Simpson noted, “There is no discernible pain, but there is some distress involved.” Additionally, the investigation uncovered 54 Category B movies and one still image involving non-penetrative acts, as well as 23 movies and 168 stills classified as Category C, involving other forms of indecent imagery.

The court also confirmed that these offences breached a sexual offences prevention order issued in 2008 after Woodhall was jailed for engaging in sexual activity in front of a child and possessing indecent images. Further breaches occurred in 2012, leading to a community sentence and a mandatory participation in a three-year sex offender programme, which the court noted had been ineffective.

In May 2014, magistrates sentenced Woodhall to four months in prison suspended for 12 months, with the requirement of unpaid work, following another breach. A subsequent breach in June resulted in a community order.

Defense solicitor Christine Luckock explained, “The offences he pleaded guilty to today date back to 2013-14. His more recent breaches were related to his involvement with riding stables where children were present.” She added, “He had difficulty complying with the order because he established a business training horses, which brought him into contact with riding stables.”

She requested the court impose a community order with supervision, emphasizing that Woodhall’s business and horses would be at risk if he were jailed. However, Judge Parker pointed out that there had been “an episode” indicating a return to previous offending behaviour, and assessments indicated he posed a danger.

Addressing Woodhall directly, Judge Parker stated, “I have to sentence you for five counts of making indecent photographs of children, where these images were accessed during a period when you demonstrated a clear propensity for such behaviour, which regrettably has been repeated.

“In each case, the child, all male victims, experienced distress. Despite previous opportunities to participate in sex offender programmes, which you completed, the intended effect was not achieved.

“I am satisfied there is a significant risk to public safety. Therefore, I find you to be a danger within the meaning of the Criminal Justice Act.”

Additionally, the court recalled that Ryan Woodhall had a prior conviction from August 2012, when he was 29 and from Trinity Close, Warton. He pleaded guilty to having unsupervised contact with children aged eight to 12—actions prohibited by his sexual offences prevention order— as well as befriending a family and sleeping over at a residence with a child between seven and nine, also in violation of the order.

He was sentenced to a three-year community supervision order, requiring participation in group work for sex offenders and ordered to pay £85 in costs.