SHAUN RICHARDSON OF WOOTTON BASSETT JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENCY IMAGES

Shaun Richardson, a 48-year-old resident of Wootton Bassett, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after a lengthy investigation uncovered his involvement in downloading and possessing indecent images of children. The criminal activity spanned over a period of 12 years, during which Richardson amassed a significant collection of illicit material.

Authorities were able to trace Richardson’s activities through file-sharing networks, a common method used by offenders to distribute and access illegal content. Upon investigation, police seized his electronic devices, which were found to contain over 10,000 images. The majority of these images depicted children under the age of 13, with some as young as nine to twelve years old.

Richardson, who is also identified as a Gulf War veteran and an IT specialist, did not deny his involvement. He admitted to both possessing and creating indecent images of minors, which led to his conviction. In addition to his prison sentence, Richardson was subjected to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order, which restricts his contact with minors and limits his online activity. Furthermore, he is now required to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct to protect the community from potential reoffending.

His sentencing highlights the serious consequences faced by individuals involved in the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, and serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat such crimes.