ALAN POOLE FROM PRIORSLEE FACES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CONVICTION IN TELFORD

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Priorslee and the wider Telford area, Alan Poole, a 48-year-old computer engineer, has been convicted on multiple charges related to child pornography. The verdict was delivered at Shrewsbury Crown Court, where a jury unanimously found Poole guilty of nine separate counts involving the creation and possession of indecent images of children.

The charges against Poole, which spanned from August 2004 to December 2005, also included four counts for which he was acquitted earlier in the trial. Throughout the proceedings, Poole maintained his innocence, denying all allegations and claiming that he had inadvertently downloaded the illegal images without his knowledge. Despite his assertions, the evidence presented painted a different picture.

Judge Robin Onions addressed Poole directly during the sentencing phase, emphasizing the seriousness of the crimes. He remarked that Poole had already, in his view, effectively talked himself into a potential prison sentence by claiming to be the victim in the case. The judge expressed disappointment at Poole’s conduct during cross-examination, describing it as embarrassing and filled with lies, with the defendant unable to recall key details.

Judge Onions made it clear that all sentencing options remained open, with the final decision to be made during the week commencing August 6, after a report on Poole’s background and circumstances is prepared. The judge warned that if the report suggested Poole was claiming to be a victim, it could lead to a prison sentence. He stated, “If I get a report back from you saying you are the victim then you will talk yourself into prison.”

The case against Poole was initiated following a tip-off from American law enforcement authorities. During an investigation into websites hosting child pornography, American police seized his credit card details. This led to a search of Poole’s residence on Coniston Drive, Priorslee, on December 1, 2005. During the search, officers discovered a collection of still and moving images stored on his computer’s hard drive, along with 16 pieces of printed material containing indecent images of children. The images varied in severity and included photographs of girls as young as four years old.

Poole claimed that he had no knowledge of the illegal images on his computer and insisted that he had downloaded them unintentionally. Despite his assertions, the evidence against him was substantial, leading to his conviction and the possibility of a significant prison sentence when sentencing is finalized.