ANDREW WOODS FROM SOUTH OCKENDON SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN BASILDON

In July 2017, a man from South Ockendon named Andrew Woods was handed a significant sentence after being found guilty of possessing indecent images of children. Woods, aged 59, was convicted of three separate offences related to the creation and possession of these disturbing materials. The court proceedings revealed that Woods had admitted to being in possession of images depicting young children being sexually abused, a crime that prompted his placement on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of five years.

Following his guilty plea, Woods was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court. His punishment included a three-year community order, which requires him to adhere to certain conditions and restrictions. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 60 days of rehabilitation, aimed at addressing his offending behavior. To further prevent any future harm, the court imposed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting Woods's activities and access to certain materials or environments.

The case against Woods was initiated after police officers acted on intelligence that led them to his residence on Tamar Drive, South Ockendon. On December 1 of the previous year, officers executed a warrant at his home, where they conducted a thorough search. During the operation, they seized various pieces of computer equipment, including laptops and computer towers, which were found to contain a disturbing collection of indecent images of children.

The images discovered on Woods’s devices were categorized into three levels of severity. The most serious, Category A, included 81 films and images depicting the most severe forms of abuse. Category B contained 60 films and images, while Category C comprised 71 films and images, representing less severe but still illegal content. The evidence was substantial and played a crucial role in securing Woods’s conviction and subsequent sentencing, highlighting the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child abuse material.