ADAM CURNOCK'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN HARWOOD AND BOLTON REVEALED

In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the communities of Harwood and Bolton, Adam Curnock, a 31-year-old former school worker, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a range of heinous sex crimes involving children. The gravity of his offenses was uncovered after police executed a raid on his residence, where they discovered an extensive collection of illegal material, including over 2,800 indecent videos and numerous recording devices. Some of these recordings were made secretly in a children’s toilet, with one video explicitly showing Curnock sexually assaulting a child. The investigation was initiated after authorities received a tip-off about Curnock’s illicit activities in 2013, prompting an internal review by Greater Manchester Police’s Professional Standards Branch to determine whether earlier intervention could have prevented some of these crimes.

Adam Curnock, who resided on Harley Avenue in Harwood, Bolton, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexual assault of a child, possession and creation of indecent images of children, possession of prohibited images, voyeurism, and possession of extreme pornographic material. His sentencing at Bolton Crown Court resulted in a seven-year prison term, alongside a lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender and the imposition of an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

The police action was triggered by a tip-off in November of the previous year, leading to a thorough search of Curnock’s home. Forensic examination of seized electronic devices revealed dozens of videos, some secretly recorded using hidden cameras placed in a toilet, capturing children as young as under 13. One particularly disturbing video depicted Curnock sexually assaulting a child while the victim sat on his lap. In total, authorities recovered 2,835 videos and images from the internet, along with other illegal content.

Detective Chief Inspector Sara Wallwork expressed her outrage over the case, emphasizing the violation of children’s privacy and trust. She stated, “These offences are a gross violation of the children’s privacy and trust. His actions were deliberate and calculated, and he has rightly been jailed for these terrible crimes. We have worked closely with the local authority and community throughout this investigation, which I know has left many shocked and appalled.”

Earlier in 2015, the court heard how Curnock, working as a welfare assistant at Harwood Meadows Primary School, had secretly installed a camera in a school toilet to film children. Over a period of 12 months, he recorded 57 videos involving 25 children, capturing them in various states of undress, using the camera to film up their skirts, and even filming a girl sitting on his knee. The court was told that Curnock used a disguised pen camera to carry out these acts, and he would covertly fix a wireless camera under the sink at the start of his shift, removing it at the end. Although he downloaded these videos onto his computer, there was no evidence to suggest he distributed them.

When police raided his Harwood home on November 14 of the previous year, they seized a large amount of computer hardware. Curnock admitted to officers that they would find indecent images of children on his devices. Following his arrest, he was granted bail but soon after attempted to take his own life by overdosing on pills and alcohol. During a mental health assessment at the Royal Bolton Hospital, he disclosed that he had been making videos of children at the school, in addition to possessing numerous indecent images. Police initially found five videos of pupils, some lasting up to 30 minutes, and later identified an additional 52 videos, including one showing a girl’s skirt being filmed while she sat on Curnock’s lap.

Curnock claimed to police that he had no sexual motive for his actions, stating that the thrill came from the secrecy and spying. He admitted to continuing his activities despite occasional attempts to stop, driven by curiosity. Despite his claims of having no previous convictions and maintaining a good relationship with children and their parents, the court found his breaches of trust to be utterly unacceptable. The investigation also uncovered that over the course of four years, Curnock had been downloading extreme pornography involving children, including videos of children as young as four being raped, as well as other illegal images and videos, some of which involved cartoon and computer-generated content, along with an extreme pornographic film involving a woman and a horse.

During the hearing, Curnock pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including voyeurism, making indecent images of children, sexual assault, and possessing extreme pornographic material. His defense argued that although filming up a child’s skirt was a sexual assault, Curnock was unaware of this specific act and had not physically touched the girl. His legal representative expressed remorse, acknowledging that Curnock was aware of his problematic behavior and needed help to prevent further harm. The judge, Timothy Clayson, indicated he would take time to consider the evidence before delivering a final sentence, which was subsequently handed down, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

This case has left a lasting impact on the local community, highlighting the importance of safeguarding children and the devastating consequences when trust is betrayed by those in positions of responsibility.