ALAN CLUTTERBUCK FROM ORFORD ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE DEVIOUS CHILD SEXUAL IMAGE OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Orford, Alan Clutterbuck, a 38-year-old resident of Greenings Court, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court in May 2019 to face serious allegations related to his possession and distribution of indecent images of children. Despite the gravity of his admissions and the evidence presented, Clutterbuck was handed a community order rather than a custodial sentence, raising questions about the justice process in such sensitive cases.

Clutterbuck pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing such images. His criminal history includes a previous 30-month prison sentence handed down in 2009 for 21 sexual offences involving the distribution and possession of child abuse images. Additionally, in 2014, he breached a sexual offences prevention order twice by possessing a laptop, which resulted in a further 16 months behind bars.

Prosecutor Paul Blasbery detailed the findings of a police raid conducted at Clutterbuck’s Orford residence in 2017. During the search, authorities uncovered a variety of electronic devices, including computers, hard drives, and laptops. Among these was a PlayStation 3 hard drive containing 61 images depicting the abuse of children. The images were categorized as follows: ten Category A images of two-year-olds, 14 Category B images of infants aged between six and 12 months, and 37 Category C images of children aged between two and four years.

In an interview with police, Clutterbuck openly admitted his sexual attraction to children, stating, “I am sexually attracted to children and when I walk down the street I am looking at children.” Despite not having found any images on a tablet during the investigation, police discovered that Clutterbuck had used vigorous search terms and had a username associated with a dark web website, indicating ongoing interest in such material.

Further examination revealed that the images found in 2017 were downloaded prior to his 2009 conviction, a detail that the judge, Gary Woodhall, described as “unusual” in the context of the case’s chronology. The court was also informed that Clutterbuck’s problematic behavior persisted after his release from prison, with evidence suggesting he continued to visit websites related to child exploitation, seemingly attempting to re-engage with the community involved in such activities.

Judge Woodhall expressed concern over Clutterbuck’s own admissions and the evidence of his ongoing deviant interests. He highlighted that the searches on Clutterbuck’s tablet, including a chatroom with a title referencing indecent images of children, demonstrated a continued unhealthy obsession. The presence of privacy software on his laptop further hindered police efforts to recover all relevant files, underscoring the difficulty in fully assessing the extent of his activities.

Considering the complex history of the case and Clutterbuck’s previous sentence, the judge reflected on whether the additional 61 images would have influenced the original sentencing in 2009. Ultimately, he decided that a community order would serve as the most appropriate means of rehabilitation and public protection. Clutterbuck was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes 120 hours of unpaid work, a 20-day rehabilitation activity, and participation in a treatment program with Horizon. Additionally, he remains under a lifelong sexual harm and prevention order, emphasizing the ongoing risk he poses to the community of Orford and beyond.