ANDREW MCPHERSON FROM TUEBROOK CAUGHT DOWNLOADING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AFTER JAIL RELEASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Tuebrook, Andrew McPherson, a man with a troubling criminal history, was found to have resumed his illegal activities shortly after being released from prison. McPherson, who previously served time for possessing a staggering 800,000 images related to child sexual abuse, was caught again engaging in the illicit act of downloading thousands of indecent images.

Back in June 2014, the then-50-year-old ex-taxi driver was sentenced to 16 months behind bars after police uncovered his involvement in the distribution and possession of child abuse images. His criminal record also includes convictions for fraud and the possession of false identification documents, which included two fake passports and a counterfeit driving license. These offenses highlighted a pattern of deception and exploitation that raised serious concerns among law enforcement authorities.

Following his incarceration, McPherson was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), a legal measure designed to restrict his online activities and prevent further offenses. The order mandated that he inform police before going online, aiming to curb his access to illegal material. Despite these restrictions, McPherson’s criminal behavior persisted. After his release from prison in June 2015, he purchased a laptop and once again downloaded a significant number of indecent images, raising alarms among investigators.

On November 18, 2015, police officers visited McPherson’s residence on Green Lane in Tuebrook to remind him of his legal obligations under the SOPO. During this visit, McPherson claimed he did not possess a computer, denying any ongoing illegal activity. However, subsequent investigations revealed otherwise. When authorities executed a raid on December 4, 2015, as part of a broader fraud investigation, they discovered the laptop in his home, confirming that he had indeed been using a computer to access prohibited material.

Further inquiries uncovered that McPherson had used false documents to obtain a National Insurance number. On December 3, 2013, he applied for and received the number at the Wavertree Job Centre, falsely claiming he had lived in Canada from 1975 to 2006, which was part of his attempt to conceal his true identity. This fraudulent activity was uncovered during police interviews, where McPherson admitted to using fake passports and a bogus driving license to facilitate his deception.

He was taken into custody and interviewed by police on December 8, 2015. During this session, McPherson claimed he had taken an overdose and was subsequently hospitalized, which delayed further questioning. It was not until June 2016 that he fully admitted to purchasing the computer and setting up an iCloud storage account. He insisted that any indecent images found on his devices must have appeared by accident, attempting to minimize his culpability.

Eventually, McPherson pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including the possession and downloading of 26 Category A images—those deemed the most serious—comprising 24 videos. He also admitted to possessing 89 Category B images and a staggering 17,374 Category C images, along with prohibited cartoon images, all in violation of his SOPO. His criminal record includes nine previous convictions for 27 offenses, notably including a 1998 jail sentence for publishing obscene materials.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Brian Cummings, QC, addressed McPherson directly, stating that if he was suffering from any health issues or attacks, he did little to prevent the risk of being sent back to prison. The judge emphasized that McPherson’s actions were in blatant breach of his SOPO and license conditions, showing a clear disregard for the law.

As a result, McPherson was sentenced to a term of two years and three months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and further restrictions to protect the community from potential harm.