HORWICH MAN DAVID RUAUX ESCAPES PRISON AFTER ILLEGAL IMAGES SCANDAL NEAR CHORLEY

In a case that has shocked the local community, David Ruaux, a man with ties to Horwich, has been convicted of possessing indecent images of children, sparking widespread concern and outrage. The incident came to light after police executed a raid on his residence, revealing disturbing evidence of his online activities.

On July 20 of the previous year, officers from the sexual crime unit arrived at Ruaux's home on Gresley Avenue in Horwich at approximately 7 a.m. The police seized multiple electronic devices, including several computers and two laptops. During their examination, they uncovered a total of 215 indecent images of children, with 38 classified as the most serious Category A, involving children as young as four years old. The remaining images were categorized as B and C, with 11 and 166 pictures respectively.

The investigation revealed that between July 6 and 17, 2022, Ruaux had been actively searching on four different websites, some bearing titles that included the word 'pre-teens' and others with 'Lolita' in their names. These searches indicated a disturbing interest in child exploitation material. When questioned by police on February 1, Ruaux admitted to viewing these images, which led to his guilty plea on three counts of making indecent images of children.

Ruaux, aged 52 and a married father of two, was previously known for his role as the headteacher of Rivington Park School, an independent institution near Chorley. He founded the school in 2004, which catered to children aged three to 16. However, the school faced ongoing financial difficulties, culminating in its closure in 2015, leaving 35 students and their families to seek alternative educational arrangements. The school had previously faced threats of closure in 2009, but concerned parents pooled together £60,000 to keep it afloat temporarily.

The police investigation was initiated after the raid, and the evidence found was deeply troubling. The images included 38 in the most severe Category A, depicting children as young as four, which is considered the most serious form of child exploitation imagery. The discovery prompted a thorough legal process, culminating in Ruaux's appearance at Bolton Crown Court.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Roger Brown detailed the extent of Ruaux's online searches and the nature of the images. The judge, Timothy Stead, sentenced Ruaux to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge emphasized the impact such offenses have on the community and the emotional well-being of parents and children alike. He stated, “Any parent, whether the current parent of a child or in the past will, inevitably, worry about what has happened.”

Judge Stead also clarified that there was no evidence to suggest Ruaux had shared these images with others, indicating that his actions were limited to viewing. The court described the offending as “truly vile” and expressed that Ruaux had brought “great shame” upon himself. As part of his sentence, Ruaux was ordered to undertake 30 days of rehabilitation activities, pay £340 in prosecution costs, and a £140 victim surcharge. Additionally, an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed, and Ruaux was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring.