CHRISTOPHER MITCHELMORE FROM LUMB AND SELLY OAK JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES IN BIRMINGHAM

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Lumb – Billesley and Selly Oak, a prominent tennis coach named Christopher Mitchelmore has been sentenced to prison after authorities uncovered a vast collection of illegal images and videos depicting child abuse on his personal devices.

Mitchelmore-Lumb, aged 41, who resides on Westminster Road in Selly Oak, was found to have stored over 14,000 images of child exploitation, along with hundreds of videos, on his laptop computer. The police investigation also revealed nude photographs of Mitchelmore-Lumb himself, as well as more than 100 images showing boys in various states of nudity or semi-nudity.

The court heard that Mitchelmore-Lumb had previously admitted to engaging in sexual activities in the presence of a child, as well as two counts of taking indecent photographs of a minor and twelve counts of making such images. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, a measure intended to monitor and restrict his future activities.

This case marks a grim chapter for the local tennis community, as Mitchelmore-Lumb becomes the second coach from the Edgbaston Priory Club to be implicated in a child abuse scandal. Two years prior, Clare Lyte was sentenced to prison after being found in bed with a 13-year-old girl she was coaching, highlighting a troubling pattern of misconduct among some individuals involved in youth sports.

Mitchelmore-Lumb’s arrest was triggered when a lodger, who was using his computer, noticed two disturbing images that prompted immediate concern. The lodger also discovered a pornographic magazine containing a photograph of a young boy dressed in tennis attire, which further implicated the coach.

Further investigations revealed that some of the images stored on Mitchelmore-Lumb’s mobile phone included explicit photographs of himself, some taken at the tennis centre, along with over 100 images of boys in various states of undress. Authorities also found material on his PlayStation 3 gaming console, which had internet access, and a photograph of him at the Billesley tennis club.

Emma Cutts, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, explained that the offences came to light after concerns raised by Andrew Fish, who had been living as a tenant in Mitchelmore-Lumb’s property. In 2007, Mr. Fish had been using the defendant’s laptop when two disturbing files appeared unexpectedly, prompting him to log off immediately. Several months later, Mr. Fish discovered a heterosexual pornographic magazine in Mitchelmore-Lumb’s bedroom, which contained a photograph of a young boy in tennis clothes and additional images of naked children.

Mitchelmore-Lumb’s disturbing fascination with young boys was further evidenced by the obscene images found on his mobile phone and the internet-connected PlayStation 3. The court heard that his actions were “deeply sick and criminal,” as Judge Richard Griffith-Jones delivered the sentence, emphasizing the severity of the offences committed by the coach from the Birmingham area.