WILLIAM GREENHALGH AND ABHIYAAN MALHOTRA SENTENCED IN BLACKPOOL AND SWANSEA FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In December 2022, a disturbing case involving two men from different parts of the UK culminated in their sentencing for heinous crimes related to child abuse and exploitation. The investigation was initiated by Lancashire Police’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) after they received information about an individual uploading an indecent image of a child to Facebook. This lead them to the residence of William Greenhalgh, a 22-year-old man living in Blackpool, where authorities seized his mobile device for forensic analysis.

Examination of Greenhalgh’s phone uncovered a disturbing pattern of communication with Abhiyaan Malhotra, a 25-year-old man residing in Swansea. The two had been exchanging messages via a social media application, during which Greenhalgh sent Malhotra indecent images of a young boy. The chat logs also revealed that Greenhalgh had recorded a live video of himself engaging in sexual activity with the child. At one point, Malhotra explicitly instructed Greenhalgh to call himself a sex offender while he was abusing the child, highlighting the disturbing nature of their interactions.

Further investigation into the chat logs uncovered that Malhotra had taken a photograph of a man sleeping naked without his knowledge and subsequently sent this image to Greenhalgh. This act of voyeurism added another layer of severity to the case. When Greenhalgh was arrested, he claimed that he had committed these offences under duress, asserting that he was part of a dominant/submissive relationship where he was the submissive party. He alleged that his co-defendant, Malhotra, had taken control of his finances and threatened to reveal his activities to his family unless he continued to send money.

During police interviews, Malhotra provided a prepared statement denying any involvement in the offences. He claimed that Greenhalgh was the dominant partner in their relationship and suggested that some of the acts were part of a consensual 'fantasy' where Malhotra was instructed to do things he did not want to do. Despite these claims, both men faced serious charges.

William Greenhalgh, who was formerly residing on Dunelt Road in Blackpool but now has no fixed address, was charged with multiple offences, including making and distributing indecent photographs of a child, sexual assault against a child, and possessing a prohibited image of a child. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was subsequently sentenced to 40 months in prison. Additionally, he was placed under a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Abhiyaan Malhotra, of Terrace Road in Swansea, faced charges of voyeurism and facilitating a child sex offence. He also pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 42 months in prison. Like Greenhalgh, Malhotra was subjected to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Both men’s cases highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions, regardless of the complexities or alleged circumstances surrounding their crimes.