COLIN CROSSLEY FROM WORCESTER JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND DRUGS

In March 2012, Worcester businessman Colin Crossley was sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting to downloading more than 35,000 indecent images of children and possessing a stash of illegal drugs.

Crossley, aged 60, of Halesowen Road, Cradley Heath, and formerly of Hillditch Lane, Hartlebury, was arrested following a tip-off from Thailand indicating his interest in child pornography, prosecutor Charles Hardy told Worcester Crown Court.

Authorities discovered the images—ranging from the lowest to the most severe at level five—on his two computers and three hard drives. Nearly 20,000 images and videos were classified at the lowest level, with 6,034 at level four, and 374 at level five.

During the raid on his home and business premises, police also found drugs worth approximately £400 in a metal briefcase. The drugs included amphetamine, cannabis, the sedative GHB, and rohypnol, commonly known as the 'date rape' drug.

Crossley, who is married, claimed the images were for personal use and had not been shared or distributed. In mitigation, his lawyer Richard Gray stated that few images had been viewed recently and described Crossley as a family man experiencing a difficult divorce, describing him as "physically and emotionally inadequate."

Mr. Gray added, "Crossley recognizes this is a shameful offence but has tried to maintain integrity in his food supply business, which supports six employees."

Judge Robert Juckes reviewed a selection of references and a psychologist’s report before passing sentence. The judge dismissed as 'bizarre' a suggestion in the pre-sentence report that Crossley believed he was helping children by collecting the images and planned to hold a vigil and pray for them.

As part of his sentence, Crossley was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order that prohibits him indefinitely from having contact with children under 16. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender.