ANTHONY DIXON FROM MACCLESFIELD SENTENCED FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In February 2015, a man from Macclesfield was brought to justice after police uncovered a disturbing collection of nearly 5,000 indecent images of children on his personal computer. Anthony Dixon, aged 60, was apprehended following a police investigation triggered by a tip-off regarding suspicious online activity originating from his former residence on Rainow Road, Macclesfield.

Authorities acted swiftly, executing a warrant to search Dixon’s property. During the search, officers confiscated his computer and various discs, which upon examination revealed a staggering number of illegal images. Specifically, 2,208 of these images were classified as the most severe category of child abuse, highlighting the gravity of the material found. In total, the police discovered 4,787 explicit photographs depicting minors, a truly disturbing collection.

Further investigation into Dixon’s computer history revealed that he had been actively searching for terms associated with recognized child abuse images. The police found evidence that he had been using file-sharing programs to download such illicit content, indicating deliberate and sustained efforts to access and possess these illegal images. The court heard that Dixon, who was then residing on South Park Road in Macclesfield, had been involved in these activities for some time.

During the legal proceedings, Dixon pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including making 2,208 indecent photographs of children, making 2,014 similar images, and creating 565 indecent images. He also admitted to possessing a total of 4,787 indecent photographs of minors, along with 1,000 prohibited images and 414 extreme pornographic images. These charges were formally presented at Chester Crown Court last month.

At a sentencing hearing held on Wednesday, February 4, the prosecution, represented by Jo Maxwell, outlined the case. Maxwell stated, “Police executed a warrant after evidence from internet watch about suspicious activity at his address. In a police interview, Mr. Dixon claimed that he was searching for adult pornography and came across the indecent images.” She further explained that the confiscated computer and discs revealed extensive searches using recognized terms related to child abuse images, as well as the presence of file-sharing programs used to download such material.

During subsequent interviews, including one at the end of July last year, Dixon chose to remain silent and did not comment on the allegations. His defense attorney, Matthew Higginson, acknowledged Dixon’s guilty plea and highlighted his client’s lack of prior convictions. Higginson also noted that Dixon suffers from depression and expressed that his client deserved some credit for admitting guilt in court.

Judge Elgan Edwards, the Recorder for Chester, emphasized the seriousness of the offences, stating, “These are serious offences that involve the abuse of children and cannot be tolerated. You admitted your guilt, which is to your credit.”

As part of his sentence, Dixon was ordered to complete a three-year community order with supervision and was mandated to attend an Internet Sex Offending Treatment Program. Additionally, he was required to sign the sex offender’s register for a period of ten years and was issued an indefinite sexual offence prevention order. The court also restricted his ability to work with children unless explicitly permitted by authorities, underscoring the ongoing concern for public safety and child protection.