BRADLEY MECHANIC ANDREW HILLMAN SENTENCED FOR DOWNLOAD OF CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Stoke-on-Trent, Andrew Hillman, a 50-year-old mechanic from Bradeley, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing an alarming number of indecent images of children. The investigation revealed that Hillman had downloaded a staggering total of 168,381 such images across eight different electronic devices, all depicting young children, including infants, subjected to sexual abuse and torture.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Hillman’s residence on February 26, 2019, which marked the beginning of a detailed forensic investigation. During police interviews, Hillman chose to remain silent, responding with “no comment” to all questions posed to him on the day of the search. He was subsequently questioned again on January 7, 2020, regarding the forensic findings, and again maintained his silence.

The police recovered a vast collection of illicit material from Hillman’s devices, including 5,618 images classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse, along with 7,096 images in Category B, and a staggering 155,667 images in Category C, which are considered less severe but still deeply disturbing. Additionally, authorities found 2,501 extreme pornographic images, further highlighting the severity of the case. Prosecutor Ben Williams described the images as “disgusting and horrific,” emphasizing the gravity of the crimes committed.

Hillman, who resides in Wheatfields, Bradeley, pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading indecent images of children between October 14, 2018, and February 26, 2019. He also admitted to possessing extreme pornographic material. Despite the serious nature of the charges, Hillman’s wife has publicly expressed her support for him, standing by him emotionally throughout the proceedings.

At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Hillman to nine months in prison. In addition to his incarceration, the judge imposed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, designed to restrict Hillman’s activities and protect the public from potential harm. Hillman will also be required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and is prohibited from engaging in any activities involving children or vulnerable adults, reflecting the court’s commitment to safeguarding the community from further offenses.