WILLIAM HOGAN FROM ALLERTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY IN LIVERPOOL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Allerton, William Paul Hogan, aged 49, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after admitting to downloading indecent images of children. The incident came to light in February 2003 when Hogan appeared before Bootle magistrates to face charges related to his online activities.

According to court records, Hogan was accused of downloading such images between July 2001 and August 2002. The investigation was initiated after his wife, acting on her suspicions, alerted the police about her husband's internet usage. Hogan's family residence is located on Ballantrae Road in Allerton, although the court chose not to disclose his home address publicly to safeguard his wife and two daughters from potential harm or undue attention.

The police investigation revealed that on August 26 of the previous year, authorities received a tip-off indicating that Hogan had been accessing child pornography on the internet. A subsequent search of his laptop computer uncovered more than 400 indecent images depicting children. Hogan admitted to the authorities that he had downloaded these photographs and disclosed that he himself had been a victim of abuse during his childhood.

Following the discovery, Hogan resigned from his position as the head of mathematics at Campion High School in Everton, a few weeks after the allegations surfaced. During the court proceedings, his defense solicitor, Tony Nelson, presented a character reference report that included supportive statements from Hogan’s wife and colleagues from the teaching community. Nelson emphasized Hogan’s remorse and explained that Hogan’s actions were rooted in a history of childhood abuse, which he suggested might have contributed to his current state of shame.

In his defense, Nelson clarified that Hogan had only viewed 'level 1' images, which depicted erotic poses but did not involve sexual activity, and that Hogan had no intention of commercializing or distributing the images. The solicitor also highlighted that Hogan had no prior criminal record.

As a result of the case, Hogan was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay £250 in court costs. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders' register for a period of five years. The decision was met with some relief from local authorities, with Stuart Smith, Liverpool’s assistant director of education, stating, “We are glad this matter is resolved and that there are rigorous procedures in place to protect children.”