ANTHONY ASHMORE CAUGHT WITH NEARLY 50 CHILD PORN IMAGES IN ANLABY

In October 2008, authorities uncovered disturbing evidence linking Anthony Philip Ashmore, a 53-year-old resident of Anlaby, to the possession of a significant number of indecent images of children. The investigation was part of a broader inquiry into the actions of Alec Alexander, a disgraced former police chief who was later sentenced to ten years in prison for heinous crimes involving his own daughter and the possession of nearly 66,000 child pornography images.

During a search of Ashmore’s residence, police officers seized three computers, which were subsequently examined and found to contain a total of 46 indecent images of minors. These images were classified within categories one to four on the official scale used to grade the severity of child pornography, with category five representing the most serious offenses. The discovery of these images marked a significant development in the ongoing investigation.

Prior to the search, authorities had been analyzing the phone records of Alec Alexander after his arrest in January. It was during this analysis that investigators identified a phone call made by Alexander to Ashmore on September 7 of the previous year. Although initial suspicions arose due to the lack of an obvious connection between the two men, investigators suspected they shared an interest in illicit material involving children. This suspicion was further reinforced when police found no other clear link between Alexander and Ashmore.

On March 3, police executed a search warrant at Ashmore’s home in Anlaby. The subsequent examination of the seized computers revealed the presence of the indecent images. During police interviews, Ashmore initially denied that any such images existed on his devices. Later, he attempted to shift blame onto his son, claiming that the images might have been accessed or stored by him.

Legal proceedings at Hull Crown Court revealed that Ashmore pleaded guilty to seven counts of possessing indecent images of children. His solicitor, Robin Smith, argued that although Ashmore was identified as a contact of Alec Alexander, there was no concrete evidence to suggest that Ashmore had shared or distributed any images. Mr. Smith also explained that Ashmore had been experiencing depression following the death of his mother and the end of his marriage, which led to increased alcohol consumption and the development of a pornography addiction, including the images in question.

In sentencing, The Honourable Mr. Justice Peregrine Simon emphasized the seriousness of Ashmore’s crimes, noting that such offenses cause indirect harm to children and perpetuate a cycle of abuse. The judge ordered Ashmore to complete a three-year supervision order as part of his community order and mandated that he register as a sex offender for seven years, underscoring the gravity of the case and the importance of ongoing monitoring.