ANTHONY SAVAGE OF SKELMERSDALE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN LANCASHIRE FOR MULTIPLE CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In November 2004, Anthony Savage, a 48-year-old from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of 31 child sex offences. Savage, who had accessed indecent images of children and engaged in online communications with other sex offenders, used his Risley workplace to download and share such material. The judge, David Hale, described Savage as an "immense danger" and noted that he groomed his victims.

Savage was sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on a Friday and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. The court learned that Savage had a criminal history dating back to 1980, including the rape of a 15-year-old girl and multiple indecent assaults on other girls.

Authorities uncovered Savage’s online activities after his employer, Fujitsu, based in Risley, provided his computer to police in October of the previous year. An investigation revealed that Savage maintained contact with other like-minded individuals via email, signing messages as "paedo" or "your child sex loving friend," while composing detailed fantasies and stories about his behaviors.

Judge Hale expressed grave concerns about Savage’s online communications, emphasizing the disturbing nature of his messages. He stated: "The most worrying aspect of the case is what you were prepared to say in the messages and letters that you wrote. You talk of children as little more than objects. Those aspects of the case give me the greatest concern because, in my view, they demonstrate a perverted sense of what is right and wrong."

While noting that Savage was married, had no prior convictions, and was considered a good provider for his family, the judge concluded that his attitudes towards children and sex with children were so profoundly distorted that a life sentence was justified. "This is a very severe sentence but the offences you committed are so serious and the potential danger is immense," he added.

Savage's defense lawyer, Debbie Gould, argued that his crimes had become less serious over the years and were now merely fantasies.

Following the case, Detective Inspector Darren Hebdon commented: "The sentence reflects the serious nature of the offences. The judge also imposed a sexual offences prevention order, prohibiting Savage from ever using a computer connected to the Internet again." He emphasized that the penalty underscores the law’s seriousness regarding internet use by sex offenders.

Fujitsu confirmed that Savage had worked for the company for two and a half years and that his laptop had been seized by police. Savage was dismissed from his position in October 2003.