COLIN BROWN FROM CATSHILL SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN WORCESTER

In September 2010, a man from Catshill named Colin Brown was sentenced to serve time in prison after being found guilty of possessing and distributing a significant collection of indecent images of children. The court proceedings took place at Worcester Crown Court, where Brown, aged 46 and residing on Golden Cross Lane, received a sentence of three and a half years behind bars. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years.

The charges against Brown stemmed from an investigation that uncovered his involvement in creating, sharing, and possessing these illicit images. During an earlier hearing, Brown admitted to making indecent photographs of children from January 2009 through April 2010. He also confessed to distributing these images between January and April of the same year, and possessing a collection of images from March 6 to March 26, 2010, with the intent to distribute them further.

The total number of images involved in the case was 963, with some classified as level five, which is considered the most severe category for illegal child exploitation material. The investigation was initiated after the national Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre in London detected suspicious online activity linked to a British national. The CEOP team identified and located Brown, working in conjunction with West Mercia Police to facilitate his arrest.

Brown was taken into custody on April 1, 2010, when police officers executed a search warrant at his residence in Catshill. During the search, authorities seized computers and digital recording devices believed to contain evidence related to his crimes. Following his arrest, Brown was charged and later appeared in court to face the allegations.

As part of his sentencing, Brown was also subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). This order restricts his access to computers and the internet, allowing him to use only devices equipped with fully operational internet offending prevention and detection software managed by West Mercia Police. The order also prohibits him from accessing the internet through any other electronic means.

Furthermore, upon his release from prison, Brown is barred from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 unless approved by Children’s Services. He is also forbidden from inviting or allowing any child under 16 into his home, garden, or any temporary residence. Additionally, he must refrain from engaging in paid, voluntary, or recreational activities that could bring him into contact with children under 16.

Commenting on the case, Detective Constable Mark Churchill, who led the investigation, emphasized the gravity of the offences. He stated, “The charges against Brown involve images depicting sexual abuse of children – some of them quite graphic. Today’s sentencing reflects the seriousness of those offences and it will be reassuring for people to know Brown has been taken off the streets and will no longer be able to pose a risk to children.”