CHRISTOPHER WALTON FROM BRIDLINGTON CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND EXTREME IMAGES
In April 2016, a disturbing incident unfolded in Bridlington when a member of the public discovered a mobile phone abandoned on the pavement outside a residential flat.The individual was attempting to identify the owner of the device when they unexpectedly came across a collection of indecent images of children stored on the phone.
Recognizing the severity of the content, the passer-by promptly alerted law enforcement authorities to the discovery.
Following the report, police officers conducted a thorough search of the flat associated with the phone's owner, Christopher Walton.
During their investigation, they seized a computer and an additional mobile device belonging to Walton.
The digital forensic analysis revealed a disturbing cache of material: a total of 1,498 indecent images stored on Walton’s computer hard drive, alongside a single extreme pornographic image depicting an adult engaged in an act likely to cause serious injury to private parts.
Walton, aged 27 and residing on Bridge Street in Bridlington, admitted to possessing an extreme pornographic image that portrayed an act with a high likelihood of causing serious harm.
He also confessed to making indecent photographs of children, along with a sample charge of possessing an indecent photograph of a child.
The images included some of the most serious category, with one depicting a one-year-old child being abused.
The majority of the images were of children aged between nine and twelve years old.
According to the court proceedings at Hull Crown Court, the images were classified into various categories based on their severity: 184 images fell into Category A, the most serious, 202 into Category B, and 860 into Category C.
Additionally, there were 138 Category A moving images, 88 at Category B, and 26 at Category C.
Notably, among the images was one of a four-year-old child and another of a baby, both classified under Category B.
Prosecutor Stephen Welch highlighted that the extreme image of the adult was of particular concern, but police were unable to provide a detailed description of that specific image despite requests.
The investigation revealed that Walton had been using and building his computer since his teenage years, having started at college around 16 or 17.
He had installed a file-sharing program called Livewire on his device, but there was no evidence to suggest he had attempted to distribute the illicit material.
The images were stored in folders labeled “porn” and “yaoi,” indicating a methodical collection over time.
The court heard that all the offences occurred between December 3, 2012, and December 23, 2014.
Walton admitted during police interviews that he had collected the images gradually over this period, initially coming across them by accident but then actively seeking out more.
Despite his claims that he did not have a sexual motivation for viewing the images, the Crown did not accept this explanation.
Walton had no prior criminal convictions.
However, his actions led to a significant legal consequence.
He was sentenced to six months in prison, and he is required to sign the sex offenders register for seven years.
Additionally, he was placed under a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration, aimed at monitoring and restricting his future conduct to protect the community from potential harm.
