THOMAS WOODS AND SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN LANCASHIRE AND GREATER MANCHESTER
A police officer employed by Greater Manchester Police has narrowly avoided imprisonment despite being found in possession of thousands of disturbing and illegal images related to child abuse, which he had downloaded over a span of ten years.The unsettling evidence was uncovered following a series of personal discoveries made by his pregnant wife, who is also a serving officer, prompting a significant legal and professional investigation.
The incident came to light when Woods’ wife, whose identity has not been disclosed publicly, decided to review her husband's phone out of suspicion that he was engaging in an extramarital affair.
During her inspection, she came across a troubling collection of photographs and videos involving minors.
Disturbed by what she found, she sought advice from a trusted friend, identified in court proceedings as Ms Spencer.
She explained to Ms Spencer that Woods claimed the images were part of an ongoing investigation, intended to 'lure’ and catch predators, a statement made following a conversation with Woods himself.
However, Ms Spencer became increasingly suspicious of this explanation and reported the matter to the police.
In response, Greater Manchester Police’s Sexual Offences Unit clarified that there was no current investigation of the nature Woods described.
This led to Woods’ immediate arrest.
At the time of his arrest, Thomas Woods, aged 34, was actively serving as a police constable within GMP’s Salford district.
Since then, Woods has been suspended from duty, and disciplinary proceedings related to misconduct are anticipated to commence in the near future, as confirmed by GMP officials.
The police investigation revealed that across Woods’ two mobile phones and his laptop, there were a total of 2,567 indecent images.
Among these, 678 images were classified as the most serious category, depicting children as young as three and up to 16 years old.
These images had been downloaded over a period from 2010 to 2021, with some of the material predating Woods’ official employment with GMP.
Prosecutor Mark Pritchard detailed the nature of the illegal content during court proceedings, noting that one of the most egregious videos showed a four-year-old girl being raped.
Pritchard emphasized that the presence of images and videos depicting 'discernible pain and suffering by children' was considered an aggravating feature in the case.
Additionally, authorities discovered a 'prohibited' CGI image involving children, along with a highly explicit video featuring a woman and a dog, classified as extreme pornography, on Woods’ devices.
Thomas Woods, whose residence is listed as Brookdale, New Longton, Preston, pleaded guilty to multiple charges: three counts of making indecent images, possession of a prohibited child image, and possession of extreme pornographic material.
The court also heard that Woods had downloaded these materials between 2010 and 2021, with some originating before he officially joined the police force.
During sentencing, Recorder Anthony O'Donohoe indicated his intention to follow the recommendations outlined in the pre-sentence report.
The defense, represented by barrister Richard Brigden, chose not to present additional mitigation.
Woods was visibly emotional, sobbing throughout the hearing.
The court sentencing resulted in Woods receiving a sentence of 16 months in prison, with the term suspended for two years.
The judge remarked on the serious nature of the offense, especially considering Woods’ position as a police officer, stating, ‘You should have known better and the public have the right to expect higher standards of behaviour from police officers.’ As part of his suspended sentence, Woods is required to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 days of rehabilitation programs.
He will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and must register as a sex offender for a decade.
The judge explicitly noted that Woods will likely lose his employment, describing his departure from the police force as happening ‘in disgrace.’ Following the court proceedings, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Jones of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch condemned Woods’ actions, stating, ‘Possessing indecent images is disgusting behaviour from a police officer, who members of the public trust to fight crime and keep people safe.
Greater Manchester Police officers and staff are expected to exemplify the highest standards of conduct.
Those who fall below these standards are subject to investigation and prosecution.
After criminal proceedings conclude, misconduct proceedings will be initiated in due course.’
