WILLIAM MORELAND FROM HAYLE CAUGHT VIEWING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN PUBLIC LIBRARY

In April 2011, William Moreland, a 22-year-old resident of Clifton Terrace in Hayle, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation after authorities uncovered disturbing evidence of his involvement in viewing and possessing indecent images of children. The case came to light when a staff member responsible for monitoring internet activity at Hayle Library noticed suspicious behavior and promptly alerted the police.

Following the alert, law enforcement officials conducted a thorough search of Moreland’s residence. During the search, they seized his laptop, which revealed a shocking collection of approximately 1,000 images classified as extreme pornography. These images were categorized into various levels of seriousness, with 159 at the lowest level, 202 at level two, 78 at level three, and 61 at level four, just below the highest classification. Many of these images depicted young boys, raising grave concerns about the nature of his online activity.

When questioned by investigators, Moreland admitted to his actions, expressing a sense of helplessness. He reportedly said, “I can’t help myself. I was very good for a few months but I just started doing it again, I don’t know why.” His admission highlighted the ongoing struggle he faced with his impulses, which had led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

William Moreland’s criminal record included 18 allegations related to the making and possession of indecent images. He had previously breached a Sexual Offences Prevention Order issued in February of the previous year, which prohibited him from visiting certain websites. This breach occurred when he accessed pornographic websites from a college library computer, further demonstrating his ongoing issues with inappropriate online behavior.

During the hearing at Truro Crown Court, his defense lawyer, Paul Gallagher, emphasized that Moreland suffers from Asperger’s syndrome and other underlying problems that may contribute to his actions. Gallagher also noted that at the time of Moreland’s conviction last year, he had not yet begun participating in an Internet Sex Offenders’ Programme, but since then, he had made significant progress and was doing well on the program.

In sentencing, Mr. Justice Butterfield acknowledged the importance of continued treatment and rehabilitation. He ordered Moreland to remain on the ISOP (Internet Sex Offenders’ Programme) with the hope that he would eventually gain control over his impulses and resist the temptation to access such revolting images. The judge also expressed concern over the lack of filtering measures on public library computers, questioning why such safeguards had not been installed. He instructed prosecutor Philip Lee to request that library authorities implement filtering devices to prevent access to illegal and adult content.

As part of his sentence, William Moreland received a nine-month prison term, which was suspended for two years. He was placed under supervision during this period and mandated to continue his participation in the ISOP program. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for the next ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Commenting on the case, Cornwall Council stated that its library service enforces an “acceptable use” policy that all users must agree to before accessing the internet. The policy explicitly prohibits browsing websites of an adult or illegal nature. The council’s spokesperson explained that a web content filtering system is in place to help enforce this policy and protect users, including children. However, they acknowledged that no filtering system can guarantee complete protection, which is why the council conducts quarterly internet monitoring to detect any inappropriate browsing. The spokesperson also revealed that this incident marked the second time in 14 months that a member of the public was caught accessing illegal content via a Cornwall library computer, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced in maintaining a safe online environment in public facilities.