DAVID WILTCHER FROM COLCHESTER AND STRATFORD UPON AVON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER VIEWING OVER 9,000 INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Colchester and Stratford upon Avon, 78-year-old David Wiltcher was found to have accessed and viewed an alarming number of indecent images of children, with the total exceeding 9,000. The disturbing discovery came to light after a tip-off from staff at Currys, where an employee assisting a customer online noticed suspicious content on Wiltcher’s device.

Following this report, authorities swiftly acted, executing a search warrant on Wiltcher’s residence. Police uncovered a trove of illicit material on his computer and hard drive, including 9,405 indecent images. Among these were photographs of children younger than one year old, and notably, 528 images classified as the most extreme Category A material, which depicts the most severe forms of child exploitation.

Wiltcher, who at the time of the police raid was residing on East Street in Colchester, has since moved to Cherry Street in Stratford upon Avon. During the court proceedings, he claimed that his internet activity was driven by a desire to distract himself from the severe tinnitus he suffers from. His defense attorney, Steven Levy, explained that Wiltcher’s online behavior began shortly after the death of his wife from cancer. Levy stated, “He started to look on the internet and that developed to the extent whereby he would download some form of virus and then spend a lot of time trying to get his computer back to normal. This distracted him from the ringing in his ears.”

Levy also emphasized that Wiltcher’s involvement with the images was not motivated by sexual interest, attempting to provide context for his actions. Despite this, the court was clear about the seriousness of the offense. Judge Christopher Morgan sentenced Wiltcher to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, acknowledging the gravity of possessing such material and the potential harm it represents.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Wiltcher, a grandfather, will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years. He is also required to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service, attend 30 days of rehabilitation, and pay costs amounting to £520. The judge underscored the importance of safeguarding children and emphasized that, regardless of the motivation, Wiltcher was well aware that his actions were illegal and contributed to the abuse of children.