ANDREW HICKTON CREWE AND SHELTON PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED AFTER REPEATED OFFENSES

In October 2020, Andrew Hickton, a man with a troubling history of child exploitation, faced justice once again after being found in possession of hundreds of disturbing images depicting the sexual abuse, rape, and torture of children. The case unfolded in Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, revealing a pattern of criminal behavior that spanned over a decade and involved multiple violations of court orders and laws.

Hickton, aged 53 and residing at Regent Court, Whieldon Road, Mount Pleasant, had previously served a prison sentence of four years and eight months in 2015 for sexually abusing a schoolgirl. During that earlier conviction, he was found to have taken 70 photographs of the girl and shared child sexual abuse images with other offenders. Despite his incarceration and subsequent release, Hickton’s criminal activities did not cease. Following his release, law enforcement officers visited his home to check on his welfare, a routine procedure for individuals on the sex offenders’ register.

However, on January 3 of the previous year, authorities encountered Hickton again, this time during a search for electronic devices. He failed to surrender a laptop that contained highly disturbing images of children aged from just one to 14 being raped by adult men. Further investigation revealed that Hickton had installed software on the device, which he was explicitly prohibited from doing, in an apparent attempt to conceal or manipulate the evidence. The police found that he had been using this software on multiple occasions between July 2018 and January 3, 2019.

During police interviews, Hickton admitted to owning the laptop since 2014 and claimed he had viewed adult pornography, denying any recent access to child abuse images. Nevertheless, the forensic examination of the device uncovered a horrifying collection of images: 120 at Category A, 179 at Category B, and 239 at Category C, depicting children aged between one and 14 being raped by adult men. The evidence also showed that he had been involved in the downloading and viewing of such material, which he initially denied but later pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and three breaches of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Hickton’s actions and the evidence against him led to a sentencing that reflected the severity of his crimes. Judge Sally Hancox sentenced him to 14 months in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses. During the hearing, Hickton, who chose to represent himself, expressed remorse but also insisted that he was fully aware of his actions. He stated, “I have no mental health problems. I made my own decisions and I made the wrong ones again because I have committed the downloading offences for a second time. I am devastated that I have put myself in this position. I spent three years rebuilding my life just to let it crumble around me. I am absolutely distraught about that. I am very sorry for what I have done.”

Prosecutor Caroline Harris highlighted Hickton’s long-standing history of offending. She explained that he was placed on the sex offenders’ register on January 22, 2015, after being convicted of distributing images of child abuse and possessing over 5,000 indecent images. Despite this, police had visited his home multiple times post-release, including in 2017 and again in January 2019, when Hickton claimed he had not accessed pornography out of fear of what it might lead to. However, the evidence contradicted his claims, revealing that he had been actively involved in viewing and downloading child abuse material.

Further details from the investigation revealed that Hickton had previously been arrested in 2004 for possessing indecent images of children, but police had taken no action at that time, citing his claims that the images were downloaded accidentally and that he had deleted them. This earlier case was reopened after the 2019 discovery, leading to his current conviction. The police and child protection charities expressed concern over the delayed response, emphasizing the long-term harm caused by such offenses. The mother of the girl involved in Hickton’s earlier abuse described her ongoing pain, stating, “This has caused nightmares to the point where I have cried myself to sleep on many occasions. This is constantly on my mind and I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces. It is impossible for us to live a normal life.”

Hickton’s criminal record now includes multiple convictions for sexual offenses, possession, and distribution of indecent images, and he remains on the sex offenders’ register for life. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of his repeated violations and the ongoing threat he poses to the community. Authorities and advocacy groups continue to stress the importance of vigilance and timely intervention in cases involving individuals with a history of child exploitation, aiming to prevent further harm and protect vulnerable victims.