DAVID PIGGOTT SHOCKS GREETLAND AND HALESOWEN WITH CHILD PORN OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Greetland and Halesowen, David Piggott, aged 53, has appeared before the courts to face serious allegations related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children. The incident came to light after his wife, from whom he is now separated, discovered troubling evidence on their family computer, leading to a police investigation that uncovered a disturbing pattern of online activity.

David Piggott, formerly residing on Scar Bottom Lane in Greetland, was charged with a total of eleven offenses. These included ten counts of making indecent photographs of children and one count of possessing such images. The police investigation revealed that Piggott had downloaded and stored numerous illicit images, with some classified as level one to level four in severity, although none reached the most serious level five classification.

The revelation of these offenses was made public during a court hearing at Bradford Crown Court. Prosecutor Paul Nicholson detailed that the offenses surfaced in December 2007, after Piggott’s wife, who has three children with him, found evidence of child pornography searches on their shared computer. Over the following six months, she continued to uncover more disturbing material, including indecent videos and images stored on a memory stick. The images ranged from less severe to more explicit, but all contributed to the breakdown of their marriage.

The couple’s separation was directly linked to these discoveries. However, it was only a year later that Piggott’s wife reported the matter to the police, after he had entered into a new relationship. Authorities examined the family’s computer and found search terms such as “rape,” “incest,” “taboo,” and “Lolita,” indicating a disturbing interest in illegal and exploitative content.

At the time of the investigation, Piggott, who works in the IT sector, explained to officers that he had been experiencing stress and depression, which he claimed led him to seek solace in pornography. Despite his claims of mental health struggles, the court was informed that he had no previous criminal record and had sought counseling for his issues.

In sentencing, Piggott was given a community order for two years, which includes supervision requirements. Additionally, he was ordered to pay prosecution costs amounting to £1,200. The court also imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and mandated his registration on the Sex Offender Register for five years. Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC acknowledged that while the offense warranted a custodial sentence, he was constrained by legal guidelines and thus opted for a community-based punishment. The judge emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “Adult porn is one thing, but you persistently strayed into the area of child exploitation, downloading some 150 images.”

Giles Bridge, representing Piggott, commented that his client had shown appropriate remorse for his actions. The case has raised serious concerns about online safety and the exploitation of children, with residents in both Greetland and Halesowen now calling for increased vigilance and preventative measures to protect vulnerable individuals from similar offenses in the future.