TONY ALLISON AND JOHN LINSLEY SHIELDON AND FERRYHILL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CRIME REVELATION

In a recent case that has sparked outrage and concern over the handling of child pornography offenses, a judge publicly criticized the magistrates for their leniency towards a man involved in the distribution of indecent images of children. The incident took place in the North East region, specifically involving individuals from Bishop Auckland, Ferryhill, and Shildon, highlighting the widespread nature of such crimes in the area.

On a day in June 2001, Judge Peter Fox delivered a stern judgment concerning the case of Tony Allison, aged 28, who had previously resided on Eldon Lane in Bishop Auckland but was later found living in Shildon. Allison had pleaded guilty to charges of distributing child pornography, a crime that involves the dissemination of images depicting minors engaged in sexual activities. The court proceedings revealed that Allison and his co-accused, John Linsley, were both students enrolled in an information technology course at a college in Spennymoor, County Durham.

During the hearing, the prosecution, led by Peter Makepeace, outlined that Allison and Linsley had been involved in the sharing and possession of illegal images. Linsley, who appeared at an earlier hearing at Sedgefield Magistrates’ Court, admitted to possessing 15 photographs showing men engaging in sexual acts with children as young as five years old. These images were discovered in his bedroom during a police investigation into a burglary at his residence in Ferryhill.

In the case of Allison, his defense attorney, Mark Styles, argued that his client, an unemployed father of two, deserved a sentence comparable to the fine imposed on Linsley. However, Judge Fox was unequivocal in his remarks, criticizing the magistrates for their decision to only fine Linsley, who was identified as a willing recipient of such disturbing images. The judge emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating, “This type of photography these courts see so frequently is the preliminary to child sex abuse. And it is this kind of distribution which generates that kind of distortion of a child’s upbringing and loss of innocence.”

Judge Fox further explained that Allison, as a participant in the distribution of these images, must serve time in prison to serve as a deterrent to others. He declared, “There is no question that you must go to prison as an example to others and to deter people from abusing children in this horrific way.”

As a result of his guilty plea, Linsley was sentenced to five years on the Sex Offenders’ Register, fined £100, and ordered to pay £55 in costs. The images he possessed were linked to the exploitation of children, and their discovery was made during police investigations into a burglary at his home in Ferryhill.

John Carr, an Internet safety consultant working with the children’s charity NCH, underscored the seriousness of child pornography crimes. He stated, “Each of these photographs records the scene of a crime, and anyone who produces, distributes, or possesses child pornographic images is involved in crimes against children.”

Overall, the case has brought to light the ongoing issues surrounding child exploitation and the importance of strict legal measures to combat such heinous crimes in the North East region, particularly in towns like Bishop Auckland, Ferryhill, and Shildon.