ANDREW DAY FROM HALESOWEN CAUGHT BY FBI FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AND THEFT IN BLACK COUNTRY

In December 2016, law enforcement authorities, including the FBI, successfully apprehended Andrew Day, a 37-year-old resident of Halesowen, following an extensive investigation into his involvement in the creation and distribution of indecent images of children, as well as the theft of female underwear. The case highlighted the serious nature of his offenses, which spanned nearly a decade, from 2006 to 2015.

It was revealed that Andrew Day had produced a total of 189 indecent images depicting children, with 39 of these classified as the most severe category, indicating the highest level of explicit content. Additionally, he had created 213 moving images, of which 133 fell into the worst category, showcasing the disturbing extent of his activities. These images were not only stored privately but also shared online, specifically on a Russian website frequented by individuals with paedophilic interests. The FBI's involvement was crucial in identifying and locating these illicit materials, which ultimately led to the intervention by UK authorities.

The investigation uncovered that Day had taken photographs up the skirts of young girls without their knowledge, further demonstrating his predatory behavior. His criminal activities extended beyond image creation; he also stole underwear belonging to girls and women, which he kept as personal trophies. The authorities found evidence of these thefts, including notes and the stolen items, during a raid on his residence on Olive Lane in Halesowen.

During the raid, law enforcement officers seized multiple electronic devices, including two mobile phones, a tablet computer, a hard drive, and a flash drive. They also recovered underwear linked to victims, along with notes indicating ownership. Among the items was a photograph of a woman from whom he had stolen underwear, underscoring the personal nature of his offenses.

Andrew Day faced multiple charges in Wolverhampton Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children, one count of committing an act outraging public decency, and three counts of theft. Prosecutor Mr. Gary Cook detailed that Day had uploaded eight albums of images to the Russian website, with one album containing 37 images. He explained that US intelligence agencies monitored such websites, which are often used by individuals with a sexual interest in children. The investigation revealed that Day had described some images as being of a young girl whose underwear he had stolen and claimed to have shared chats with her online.

In his defense, lawyer Mr. John Lucas described the case as 'odd,' suggesting that Day posted the images primarily for his own personal gratification. He argued that the posting was not for profit but rather for the shock value or personal pleasure derived from sharing such material on the internet.

Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey acknowledged that the images were not posted for financial gain but emphasized that their distribution still constituted a serious offense. He sentenced Day to two years in prison and imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from engaging with children or vulnerable individuals. The judge also noted that Day, who had no prior convictions, had made the images available to others with similar interests, thereby facilitating the spread of harmful material and perpetuating abuse.