COLIN WELBURN FROM MARSEKE INVOLVED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL IN WEST YORKSHIRE AND TEESSIDE

In a startling turn of events, a computer repair mix-up in West Yorkshire inadvertently exposed a disturbing case of child pornography involving a resident of Marske. The incident not only brought shame upon the individual involved but also highlighted the serious legal consequences associated with such offenses.

Colin Welburn, aged 49 and residing on Ronaldshay Terrace in Marske, found himself at the center of a criminal investigation after his computer was mistakenly sent to a repair firm in West Yorkshire. The computer, which Welburn had sent for repairs due to malfunctioning, was mistakenly delivered to a different family in Doncaster, the Collins family. This error was due to a mix-up involving the similarity of the family name 'Collins' and Welburn’s first name, leading to the wrong machine being returned to the family.

The Collins family, who had purchased the computer as a Christmas gift several months prior for their 15-year-old son Daniel, were shocked when they received Welburn’s computer in January. Upon inspection, they discovered inappropriate and disturbing content, which included video clips depicting young girls being abused. The family, deeply disturbed by what they found, immediately contacted the police. John Collins later told officers that he felt physically sick after viewing the images on the computer, underscoring the severity of the material involved.

Following the police investigation, Colin Welburn was arrested in August. During questioning, he admitted to searching child pornography websites and creating obscene mini-movies featuring young girls, some as young as two years old. The evidence against him was substantial, leading to his prosecution on multiple charges related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children.

At Teesside Crown Court, Welburn faced serious charges and was ultimately sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was placed under two years of probation supervision and mandated to participate in an internet sex offenders’ treatment program. The court also imposed a lifelong ban on Welburn working with children and ordered him to register as a sex offender for a period of seven years. Judge John Walford emphasized the gravity of Welburn’s actions and the potential danger posed to society.

Welburn, who is employed by the steel company Corus, admitted to four charges of making indecent images of children. His defense lawyer, Duncan McReddie, stated that Welburn had been honest with police following his arrest and did not attempt to provide any implausible explanations for the presence of the images on his computer. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the severe legal repercussions faced by individuals involved in child exploitation crimes.