ANDREW WARD FROM CASTLEFORD ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE CHILD SEX IMAGE OFFENSES
| Red Rose Database
Castleford Rapist
In August 2020, the case of Andrew Ward, a man with a disturbing history linked to child sexual abuse images, took a significant turn in the courts. Ward, who is known to have resided in Castleford, was found to possess indecent images of children on his personal computers at his home on Netherwood Avenue. This revelation came after a routine check by authorities, uncovering troubling evidence of his ongoing involvement with such illicit material.
Ward, aged 55, had previously served a prison sentence in 2012 for possessing a large quantity of child abuse images and videos at his residence in Bolton, Greater Manchester. During that earlier conviction, he was sentenced to 12 months in jail. Following this, he was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which was intended to prevent him from keeping devices at home that could facilitate unmonitored internet activity. Despite these restrictions, investigations revealed that Ward continued to access and download illegal content.
Prosecutor Christopher Dunn detailed that during a visit last year to check Ward’s devices, authorities discovered additional indecent images, some classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse. It was also found that Ward had employed software designed to conceal his activities, making it more difficult for investigators to track his downloads. These findings underscored a pattern of ongoing offending despite previous legal interventions.
Ward appeared at Leeds Crown Court, where he admitted to three counts of making indecent images and breaching the terms of his SHPO by installing software to hide his activities. His legal representative, Joanne Shepherd, clarified that Ward now identifies as female but was being referred to as a man and by his previous name for the purposes of the case.
Judge Mushtaq Khokhar, presiding over the case, chose not to impose immediate imprisonment. Instead, he emphasized that treatment and rehabilitation could be more effectively administered through a community order. The judge stated, “In 2012, you were convicted of possessing large quantities of indecent images of children, and at that time, the scale of your offending meant the court could not consider treatment options, only a custodial sentence. It’s clear you derived sexual gratification from these images. You call it an addiction, but it’s far more serious—a perversion that violates the standards of decent society. Until you accept that it’s a perversion rather than an addiction, genuine progress cannot be made.”
Consequently, Ward was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes participation in a treatment program aimed at addressing his offending behavior. The judge warned that any breach of the order or further offenses would result in a return to prison. This decision reflects a cautious approach, balancing the need for accountability with the potential for rehabilitation in the community.
Ward’s criminal history is extensive. In April 2012, he was jailed for a year after police uncovered thousands of child abuse images on his devices at his former home in Bolton. He was also disqualified from working with children, banned from accessing the internet, and prohibited from deleting or keeping any computer storage devices. His name was entered onto the sex offenders register for ten years.
Further details from the 2012 case reveal that police seized a laptop, PC, and disk during a raid at his residence on Compton Road in Bolton. Forensic analysis confirmed that Ward had accessed a network dedicated to sharing such images and had downloaded a video file depicting child abuse. The investigation uncovered a total of 9,802 indecent images, with 97 in video format. The images were graded from level one to five, with level five representing the most severe content. Among these, 99 images were classified as level five, indicating extreme material. Additional images depicted bestiality and included instructional content on how to abuse children.
It was also revealed that Ward used the Japanese version of Google to search for illicit images, employing specific search terms related to abuse. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including making and possessing indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornography, and prohibited images, which mainly consisted of sexual cartoons. The police investigation was initiated after a warrant was executed at his Bolton home, leading to his arrest and subsequent charges. Forensic experts found that Ward used specialized software to erase traces of his activity and to avoid detection, further complicating the investigation.
Throughout the proceedings, the court highlighted the seriousness of Ward’s offenses and the ongoing risk he posed. Despite his previous convictions and continued offending, the court opted for a community-based sentence, emphasizing the importance of treatment and monitoring to prevent future harm.
Ward, aged 55, had previously served a prison sentence in 2012 for possessing a large quantity of child abuse images and videos at his residence in Bolton, Greater Manchester. During that earlier conviction, he was sentenced to 12 months in jail. Following this, he was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which was intended to prevent him from keeping devices at home that could facilitate unmonitored internet activity. Despite these restrictions, investigations revealed that Ward continued to access and download illegal content.
Prosecutor Christopher Dunn detailed that during a visit last year to check Ward’s devices, authorities discovered additional indecent images, some classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse. It was also found that Ward had employed software designed to conceal his activities, making it more difficult for investigators to track his downloads. These findings underscored a pattern of ongoing offending despite previous legal interventions.
Ward appeared at Leeds Crown Court, where he admitted to three counts of making indecent images and breaching the terms of his SHPO by installing software to hide his activities. His legal representative, Joanne Shepherd, clarified that Ward now identifies as female but was being referred to as a man and by his previous name for the purposes of the case.
Judge Mushtaq Khokhar, presiding over the case, chose not to impose immediate imprisonment. Instead, he emphasized that treatment and rehabilitation could be more effectively administered through a community order. The judge stated, “In 2012, you were convicted of possessing large quantities of indecent images of children, and at that time, the scale of your offending meant the court could not consider treatment options, only a custodial sentence. It’s clear you derived sexual gratification from these images. You call it an addiction, but it’s far more serious—a perversion that violates the standards of decent society. Until you accept that it’s a perversion rather than an addiction, genuine progress cannot be made.”
Consequently, Ward was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes participation in a treatment program aimed at addressing his offending behavior. The judge warned that any breach of the order or further offenses would result in a return to prison. This decision reflects a cautious approach, balancing the need for accountability with the potential for rehabilitation in the community.
Ward’s criminal history is extensive. In April 2012, he was jailed for a year after police uncovered thousands of child abuse images on his devices at his former home in Bolton. He was also disqualified from working with children, banned from accessing the internet, and prohibited from deleting or keeping any computer storage devices. His name was entered onto the sex offenders register for ten years.
Further details from the 2012 case reveal that police seized a laptop, PC, and disk during a raid at his residence on Compton Road in Bolton. Forensic analysis confirmed that Ward had accessed a network dedicated to sharing such images and had downloaded a video file depicting child abuse. The investigation uncovered a total of 9,802 indecent images, with 97 in video format. The images were graded from level one to five, with level five representing the most severe content. Among these, 99 images were classified as level five, indicating extreme material. Additional images depicted bestiality and included instructional content on how to abuse children.
It was also revealed that Ward used the Japanese version of Google to search for illicit images, employing specific search terms related to abuse. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including making and possessing indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornography, and prohibited images, which mainly consisted of sexual cartoons. The police investigation was initiated after a warrant was executed at his Bolton home, leading to his arrest and subsequent charges. Forensic experts found that Ward used specialized software to erase traces of his activity and to avoid detection, further complicating the investigation.
Throughout the proceedings, the court highlighted the seriousness of Ward’s offenses and the ongoing risk he posed. Despite his previous convictions and continued offending, the court opted for a community-based sentence, emphasizing the importance of treatment and monitoring to prevent future harm.