DAVID BOTLEY FROM WILLENHALL SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN WALSALL

In September 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving a resident of Willenhall, David Botley, who was found to possess an alarming collection of indecent images and videos depicting children. The authorities uncovered that Botley had stored over 1,300 illicit images and nearly 300 videos on his personal computer, raising serious concerns about his involvement in the distribution and consumption of child sexual abuse material.

Specifically, the police confiscated a computer from Botley's residence at The Pinnacle, Gomer Street, Willenhall. An examination of the device revealed a total of 1,235 images classified as Category C, 49 images categorized as Category B, and 12 of the most severe Category A images. Additionally, the device contained 67 videos classified as Category A, 59 as Category B, and 167 as Category C. These classifications indicate the increasing severity and explicitness of the material stored on his computer.

During the court proceedings at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Botley, aged 64, admitted to possessing these illicit images. Despite his initial claims that he only viewed regular adult pornography, police investigations uncovered his attempts to erase the evidence. He had tried to wipe the images from his computer, but forensic officers managed to recover the files. They also discovered software that enabled him to download videos and conduct searches using specific terms, suggesting a deliberate effort to access and store such material.

Prosecutor Mr. Edward Soulsby highlighted that Botley's behavior spanned over a couple of years, which explained the large volume of images and videos police found despite his efforts to conceal them. The court was told that Botley's actions not only involved possession but also contributed to the demand for child abuse images, which perpetuates the cycle of abuse.

Judge Stephen Ward sentenced Botley to 12 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. The judge also ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work, attend a sex offenders' rehabilitation course, and sign the sex offenders register for a period of ten years. Furthermore, Botley was subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which grants police the authority to monitor his computer activity for the next decade to prevent further offenses.

In addressing Botley directly, Judge Ward emphasized the gravity of his actions, stating, “When you look at images of children, you might think you are not doing any harm but you are. These are real children and this is real abuse.” The judge further explained that downloading such images fuels the demand, leading to the continued production of child abuse material, and underscored the importance of holding offenders accountable to protect vulnerable victims.