ASHLEY MALONEY FROM WIRRAL SENTENCED FOR NEARLY 9,000 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND VIDEOS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community in Wirral, Ashley Maloney, a 31-year-old man, was found to possess an extensive collection of indecent images and videos depicting child abuse, including some that involved acts of rape, as well as material involving animal pornography. The police first conducted a raid on Maloney’s residence on September 24, 2018, at his home on Poolwood Road in Woodchurch, Wirral. During this initial visit, officers seized a computer tower and an external hard drive, but Maloney was not present at the time.

Rather than cooperate with law enforcement, Maloney chose to ignore the officers’ instructions and, instead of contacting them, he acquired a new laptop and continued his online searches for illicit content. This brazen act of defiance allowed him to rebuild his disturbing collection, which would later be uncovered through detailed forensic analysis.

At Liverpool Crown Court, prosecutor Suzanne Payne explained that the police left a copy of a search warrant and contact details of an officer at the scene. Subsequent investigations revealed that Maloney’s computer contained more than 8,500 images, with a significant number—6,843—created between August 15 and September 23 of that year. Experts also discovered peer-to-peer file-sharing software used to download over 170 files, many of which contained indecent images of children.

Despite numerous attempts by police to contact Maloney, including leaving voicemails and sending three letters requesting him to attend an interview, he failed to respond. As a result, he was circulated as a wanted individual until he was finally arrested at his home on March 7, 2020. During the subsequent search of his property, officers seized a new laptop and a computer tower, which he claimed to have obtained from his sister in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Maloney maintained that he did not intentionally seek out indecent images, asserting that he downloaded movies and games from Russian websites, and that sometimes illegal images were embedded within torrents. He also denied any sexual interest in children, claiming that the images were downloaded accidentally. However, forensic analysis of his new devices revealed searches for highly depraved collections of child sexual abuse material, along with the continued use of peer-to-peer software.

When questioned again on August 21 of the previous year, Maloney reiterated his story, stating that he bought the laptop from his sister in 2018 to replace the one seized by police, and that he purchased the computer tower in 2019. Despite his denials, the evidence showed he possessed 46 Category A images and videos—those depicting the most serious offenses, including child rape—along with 157 Category B and 8,577 Category C files, totaling an alarming 8,793 items. His collection also included nine extreme pornographic videos, such as those showing women engaging in sexual acts with dogs, and a single prohibited image.

The prosecution highlighted that the movies contained footage of girls aged between 12 and 15 being sexually abused, with photographs of girls aged 10 to 14, and even a Category C image of a girl aged three or four. Maloney admitted to 11 sexual offenses, including downloading and possessing indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornography, and holding a prohibited image. It was also noted that he had a prior conviction from 2007 for using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behavior that caused fear of violence.

Judge Murray sentenced Maloney to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. He also ordered Maloney to sign the Sex Offenders Register and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years, aimed at protecting the public. Additionally, the judge mandated that Maloney participate in a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, complete the Horizon sex offenders treatment program, and undergo a six-month alcohol treatment program. The judge warned that breaches of these conditions would be taken seriously, emphasizing, “It’s not likely you’re going to get a second chance, you just about got this one.”