ALEJANDRO MEMBRILLA JAILED IN WIGAN FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Wigan, a disabled man named Alejandro Membrilla has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after being found guilty of downloading and distributing indecent images involving children. The court heard that the images, which depicted young boys aged between six and 12, were stored on his computer and shared with others, contributing to the ongoing abuse of the victims.

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating that viewing and disseminating such images perpetuates the cycle of abuse and causes further harm to the victims. The case was brought to light after concerns about internet performance issues in the shared accommodation where Membrilla resided above a business premises in Wigan. The complaints about slow internet speeds prompted a flatmate to investigate, leading to the discovery of the illicit images on October 20, 2014.

Following this discovery, police seized Membrilla’s computer for forensic analysis. The examination revealed a total of 43 images, with seven of these classified in the most serious categories of child exploitation material. It was also uncovered that Membrilla had shared some of these images via Skype with other individuals involved in similar offenses, and his computer was equipped with peer-to-peer file sharing software, facilitating the distribution of such material.

During initial police questioning, Membrilla denied possessing any child abuse images, claiming that the content was merely “ordinary gay porn.” However, subsequent investigations proved otherwise. The evidence led to his guilty plea on two counts of distributing the most serious images and five counts of downloading the images between October 2013 and October 23, 2014.

Membrilla, who is 43 years old and originally from Spain, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in a wheelchair, having previously undergone a foot amputation in 2013. Despite his physical disability, he was escorted to the cells after sentencing, using a walking stick. The judge ordered him to register as a sex offender for five years, a measure that underscores the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses.

In addition to his prison sentence, Membrilla was mandated to sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years. The court’s decision reflects the serious concern over the proliferation of child abuse images and the importance of holding offenders accountable, regardless of their physical disabilities or background. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat such heinous crimes in communities like Wigan.