THOMAS WINCKLEY OF SHREWSBURY JAILED FOR ILLEGAL ACTS AT LEISURE CENTRE
In May 2014, Thomas Winckley, a 35-year-old psychology graduate from Benbow Quay, Shrewsbury, was sentenced to six years in prison for a series of disturbing crimes involving children at the Quarry Leisure Centre in Shrewsbury.Winckley secretly filmed boys changing in lockers using his iPhone on two separate occasions.
The court was told he had previously admitted to 37 offences against children committed between 2007 and 2012.
These charges included possessing thousands of indecent images of minors and filming underage boys via webcams after grooming them online.
He engaged in sexually explicit conversations and sent a message to one boy stating, “I can’t wait until your exams are over.” Prosecutor Mr.
Hugh Quinn O’Brien explained that Winckley had also recorded footage of boys as he walked through Shrewsbury, noting, “He had completed a complex and organised computer filing system.” During the trial, Winckley's lawyer, Mr.
Andrew Holland, emphasized his client’s intelligence, citing his psychology degree and high IQ.
“He is remorseful and will do all he can to make amends,” said Mr.
Holland.
“It was only at the point of his arrest did he realize the impact of his actions.” However, Judge Peter Cooke remarked that prison was necessary, stating, “It was despicable behaviour poking around public swimming pools.
You represent a significant risk of doing harm to young boys.”
