CHRISTOPHER GALLAGHER FROM BURNLEY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Burnley, Christopher Gallagher, a 61-year-old resident of Florence Street, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of possessing a significant collection of child pornography. The court proceedings revealed that Gallagher's devices contained nearly 1,500 explicit images depicting minors, some of whom were infants, highlighting the severity and disturbing nature of his offenses.

Gallagher appeared before Burnley Crown Court to face multiple charges, ultimately pleading guilty to 11 counts of possessing indecent photographs of children. The court was informed that approximately half of these images depicted children under the age of 13, with some of the photographs being of infants, underscoring the heinous nature of his collection. In addition to the child pornography charges, Gallagher admitted to possessing 172 images classified as extreme pornography, further illustrating his twisted interests.

The sentencing judge, Judge Robert Altham, emphasized the importance of safeguarding the public from Gallagher, especially given his prior criminal history. As part of the sentence, Gallagher was sentenced to 18 months for the child pornography offenses, with an additional two months to be served concurrently for the possession of extreme images. Recognizing the danger he poses, the judge also imposed a 10-year public order restriction, disqualifying Gallagher from working with children and mandating his inclusion on the child protection register. Furthermore, authorities confiscated Gallagher's computer and laptop as part of the investigation.

It was revealed during the court proceedings that Gallagher had previously served time in prison for similar offenses involving indecent images of children, indicating a troubling pattern of behavior. The police investigation was initiated following inquiries in Gloucester, where Gallagher initially denied any involvement in downloading or possessing such images. However, evidence uncovered during the investigation proved otherwise.

Judge Altham condemned Gallagher's actions, stating, “You are extremely incorrigible and have a twisted sexual interest in young children,” highlighting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for strict measures to prevent further harm. The case has once again brought to light the ongoing issue of child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to protect vulnerable minors from predators like Gallagher.