DAVID BROCK FROM LYTHAM ST ANNES SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES

In a case that has shocked the community of Lytham St Annes, David Brock, a 48-year-old man residing on Clifton Drive North, faced serious criminal charges related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children. The incident came to light in December 2010 when police, acting on a tip-off, executed a warrant under the Protection of Children Act at his flat. The authorities arrived at his residence and, after a brief confrontation, forcibly entered the premises when Brock refused to open the door. Upon entry, officers found him in front of a computer system in the living room, frantically pressing keys on his keyboard, a behavior that drew immediate suspicion.

Police reports indicate that Brock was actively attempting to delete evidence when they arrived. In their efforts to secure the scene and prevent further destruction of evidence, officers had to physically remove him from the computer and place him on the floor. During the search of his flat, three computers were seized for examination by the police's high-tech crime unit. The investigation revealed a disturbing collection of illegal material stored on his devices.

Analysis of the seized equipment uncovered a total of 5,395 indecent images of children. These images were stored across various files, with some categorized into specific folders. The images ranged in severity, with most classified as level one, indicating the least serious category, totaling 2,646 images. However, the collection also included images at all levels of seriousness, culminating in the discovery of one extremely extreme image depicting abuse. The images depicted children under the age of five, including infants, and most of the material involved pre-teen children, both boys and girls, all under 13 years old.

Prosecutor Hilary Banks outlined the gravity of the case, emphasizing that the images showed children in highly vulnerable states. She noted that the evidence included notes bearing website names, some of which were recognized as sites associated with child abuse content. Despite having previous convictions, Brock had no prior convictions related to similar offenses, which added a layer of complexity to the case.

During the court proceedings, Michelle Brown, representing Brock, expressed her client’s remorse and his genuine desire to address his issues. She described him as motivated and willing to take responsibility, likening his behavior to an addiction that had escalated from normal adult pornography to more severe and illegal material. Brown emphasized Brock’s anxiety about the possibility of immediate imprisonment and his willingness to undergo treatment.

Ultimately, Judge Robert Altham sentenced Brock to ten months in prison, suspended for two years. The sentence included two years of supervision, during which Brock will participate in an internet sex offenders treatment program. Additionally, he will be subject to a three-month nightly curfew. Brock is also required to remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years, is prohibited from working with children, and will be subject to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order. The judge underscored the seriousness of the offense, stating, “People such as yourself who encourage the creation of images like that are contributing to acts of abuse, as shown in those photographs. It is difficult to imagine what the effect is upon the young children who are the subject of that sort of violation and abuse, encouraged, as it has been, by you.”