DAVID LUTZ WARD FROM ACOMB, YORK, SENTENCED FOR RE-OFFENDING WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ATTEMPTED RAPE

In a series of disturbing criminal cases spanning over a decade, David Lutz Ward, a man originally from Acomb, York, has been repeatedly convicted of heinous crimes involving child exploitation and sexual abuse. His latest sentencing underscores the severity of his offenses and the ongoing threat he poses to the community.

In June 2016, Ward, aged 53 at the time, was brought before York Crown Court to face charges related to possessing a vast collection of indecent images and videos depicting children in distress, some as young as 12 months old. The court heard that Ward had pleaded guilty to nine counts, including possession of indecent images, moving images of children, and prohibited images. The evidence presented revealed that some of the children depicted were subjected to physical and sexual abuse, with their suffering clearly visible in the videos.

The court was informed that Ward had a long history of sexual offenses. In September 2013, he was released after serving ten years of a 15-year sentence for the brutal rape of a baby girl. During that period, he also operated an international internet delivery system that spanned 57 countries, distributing an average of 3,000 sexual images of children daily. These images included extremely disturbing content such as sadomasochism, bondage, bestiality, child rape, and post-mortem abuse of children. Prosecutors highlighted that there were 61 encrypted images and videos showing Ward himself sexually abusing a nine-month-old child, a revelation that added to the gravity of his crimes.

Despite being released on license, Ward’s criminal activities did not cease. Just seven months after his release, police executed a search at his residence and discovered multiple electronic devices, including laptops, a tablet, a smartphone, DVDs, and hard drives. Ward had been explicitly banned from owning computers capable of internet access following his earlier conviction, yet authorities found that he had secretly retained and used such devices. The seized equipment contained thousands of indecent images of children and hundreds of videos of sexual abuse.

Prosecutor Philip Standfast explained to the court that Ward initially claimed the devices were for job searches and viewing adult pornography, but he later admitted guilt. The court heard that Ward’s actions represented a blatant breach of his sexual offences prevention order and his license conditions, demonstrating a pattern of ongoing criminal behavior.

Judge Paul Batty, the Recorder of York, sentenced Ward to a total of five years and four months in prison. The sentence comprised two consecutive terms of two years and eight months for the most serious charges, along with a 12-month concurrent sentence for other offenses. The judge emphasized the aggravating factors, including the young age of the children depicted and the evident distress they experienced. He also noted Ward’s deeply ingrained belief that his actions were acceptable, as indicated in psychiatric reports, and his high risk of reoffending.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Ward was subjected to a longer period on license after his release and was issued a new sexual harm prevention order. The court’s decision reflects the ongoing concern about Ward’s dangerousness and the potential threat he continues to pose to children.

Earlier, in February 2016, Ward’s criminal activities had already come to light. He was found to have amassed over 12,300 indecent images of children, along with nearly 900 images and videos of adults engaged in extreme sexual acts. Despite being on parole after serving part of his 15-year sentence for attempting to rape a baby and running an international child pornography distribution network, Ward had defied restrictions on his internet use. He was caught breaching a sexual offences prevention order by secretly owning computers, which led to his recall to prison.

During this period, Ward had also been involved in distributing a staggering number of images—sending over 33,000 images to 57 countries in a three-week span. His activities drew the attention of German police, who alerted North Yorkshire Police, leading to his arrest. Ward admitted to multiple charges, including distributing indecent images of children, attempted rape, and indecent assault.

Ward’s criminal history dates back to 2004, when he was sentenced to 19 years for attempting to rape a nine-month-old baby and creating a vile internet child pornography service. His collection at that time included over 25,000 images and videos of child abuse, some of which depicted him abusing the very child he was entrusted to care for. The judge at that time described the material as the most vile and perverted he had ever seen, condemning Ward’s actions as horrendous and deeply damaging to the victims.

Throughout his criminal career, Ward has demonstrated a pattern of escalating offenses, with authorities repeatedly uncovering his activities through diligent police work and international cooperation. His case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a high risk of reoffending in the realm of child sexual exploitation and abuse.