DAVID ENTWISTLE AND CHRITINE ENTWISTLE FROM CHADDERTON AND OLDHAM JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY COVER-UP

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Chadderton and Oldham, a mother and her son have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in child pornography offenses and an elaborate cover-up scheme. The incident came to light after authorities uncovered a series of illegal activities linked to David Entwistle, 32, and his mother, Christine Entwistle, 49.

David Entwistle, who previously resided on Manchester Road in Oldham, was first convicted of child pornography offenses approximately two and a half years prior to his recent arrest. As part of his punishment, he was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which explicitly restricted his use of computers to work or educational purposes only. Despite these restrictions, he was found to have violated the order, prompting further investigation.

In February of the previous year, authorities detained David after discovering that he had been using Facebook in breach of his court-imposed restrictions. A detailed examination of his computer revealed that he had been downloading child pornography again, with images depicting victims as young as five years old. This discovery was particularly alarming, as it indicated a continued interest in illegal material despite the restrictions placed upon him.

During police interviews, David claimed that his internet activity was permissible because his mother had been doing the typing for him. He alleged that she had sent Facebook messages on his behalf and had even accessed adult pornography sites for him. To justify the presence of the illegal images, David argued that they had 'popped up' while he and his mother were browsing the web for adult content, and that his mother had accidentally clicked 'save' on the images.

Christine Entwistle, who was employed as the deputy manager of a primary school care club, initially supported her son's story. She was living on Otley Close in Chadderton at the time. She cooperated with police and faced charges of downloading child pornography herself. However, after nearly a year of maintaining her false account, she eventually admitted that she had not downloaded any illegal images. Her admission came after the evidence against her became irrefutable.

Following her guilty plea to perverting the course of public justice, Christine Entwistle was sentenced to seven months in prison. Her actions, especially given her role working with children and her position as a mother of three, were described by Judge Roger Thomas QC as 'staggering.' The judge emphasized the gravity of her deception, stating that her behavior was deliberate and aimed at covering up her son's breach of the Sexual Offences Prevention Order and his ongoing interest in child pornography.

David Entwistle, who admitted to making and possessing four illegal images, some of which depicted child abuse, was sentenced to 15 months in prison at an earlier hearing. The judge underscored that there was 'no alternative' but to impose custodial sentences on both individuals, given the seriousness of their offenses and the malicious intent behind their actions.

Judge Thomas concluded by condemning the conduct of the mother, highlighting the breach of trust and the potential harm caused by their actions. The case has raised significant concerns about the safeguarding of children and the importance of vigilance in communities where individuals in positions of trust are involved in such heinous crimes.