ANDREW DAVIES FROM GREASBY SHOCKS MERSEYSIDE WITH HALF A MILLION CHILD PORN IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Andrew Davies, a resident of Greasby, was found to possess an astonishing collection of over half a million child pornography images. The revelation came during a court hearing where authorities detailed the extent of his illicit material, which included both photographs and videos spanning all five categories of severity. The sheer volume of these images was so overwhelming that officers from Merseyside’s high-tech crime unit ceased categorising them after counting 181,407 individual files, a number that only scratches the surface of his total collection.

These illicit materials were discovered at Davies’ residence in Leasowe, a part of the Wirral, where they were stored on his tower computer, various discs, and, unbeknownst to his mother, on her laptop as well. The police found that Davies, who openly admits to being 'obsessed' with such disturbing images, had accumulated this vast collection over time. The initial discovery was made on January 27 of the previous year, leading to his arrest and subsequent bail. Despite this, the authorities’ concern was far from over.

Just five months later, in June, police executed a second raid on Davies’ new home located on Wood Lane in Greasby. This operation was prompted by a concerned TV aerial installer who had been working at Davies’ residence. During a conversation about Davies’ satellite receiver, a Dream Box with a hard drive, the installer inquired about what Davies had been watching that day. Davies, in a startling admission, responded that he had been viewing child pornography. When the installer appeared visibly shocked, Davies attempted to downplay the situation, claiming, “It’s all right, it’s okay. It was Chinese kids,” as recounted by prosecutor Joanne Maxwell.

Following this confession, the installer immediately contacted the police, leading to Davies’ re-arrest. During the subsequent search of his bedroom, officers uncovered three discs containing similar illicit content, again in all categories, including the most serious. Davies claimed these discs had been stored in the loft of his previous residence in Leasowe and had been overlooked during the earlier raid.

According to Miss Maxwell, Davies, aged 40 and residing on Liscard Road in Wallasey, first came under police scrutiny after American authorities identified his activity on a file-sharing website used for downloading child pornography. His guilty plea to 17 counts of making indecent images was entered during the court proceedings. During police interviews, Davies was described as extremely candid, accepting full responsibility for his actions and acknowledging his obsession with such material.

His professional life was also affected; Davies, who was a Red Cross first-aider, was suspended from his duties once the allegations surfaced and subsequently resigned from the organisation. The court heard that his actions had strained his relationship with his mother, adding a personal toll to his legal troubles.

Judge Mark Brown sentenced Davies to 15 months in prison, noting that under the Sentencing Guidelines Council, the maximum penalty for his offences was two years. However, he acknowledged Davies’ guilty plea and cooperation, which merited a reduced sentence. Additionally, the judge ordered Davies to register as a sex offender for ten years and imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order to monitor his future conduct.

In his remarks, Judge Brown expressed profound horror at the nature of the crimes, stating, “Any right-thinking person listening to the facts of this case would be horrified and appalled to hear what sort of abuse that the children who are depicted had to endure when these images and movies were being made.” He emphasized that the existence of such material relies on the demand created by individuals like Davies, underscoring the societal responsibility to combat such heinous crimes.

Defence lawyer John Weate argued that Davies’ obsession had not led to any physical crimes and highlighted that his client had sought help for his problem. Weate also noted that Davies was an isolated individual and expressed hope that he would take advantage of any rehabilitative opportunities offered to him. The case has left a lasting impact on the community and underscores the ongoing battle against child exploitation and abuse.