DEAN CALDWELL SENTENCED IN BOLTON FOR CHILD IMAGE OFFENCES

DEAN CALDWELL SENTENCED IN BOLTON FOR CHILD IMAGE OFFENCES

In March 2019, Dean Caldwell was sentenced in Bolton Crown Court after admitting to possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Caldwell, 36, pleaded guilty to offenses committed over a nine-month period ending on November 20, 2017.

The police executed a search at his home on Kearsley Mount Precinct following information provided by the National Crime Agency.

Officers discovered a total of 1,052 images of children on Caldwell's mobile phone.

These included 259 Category A images deemed the most serious, 158 Category B, and 635 Category C images.

Prosecutor Wayne Jackson explained, "He posted them to get into the chat room in the first place.

It was almost, I suppose, the key to the door." Caldwell had also uploaded two indecent images to gain access to an adult chat room.

Further investigation revealed that Caldwell had pretended to be a teenage girl within the chat rooms.

During the hearing, Caldwell was visibly upset as his defense attorney, Andrew Costello, highlighted the personal consequences of his actions.

"He has lost his marriage and seriously damaged his relationship with his children," Mr.

Costello stated.

Judge Richard Gioserano sentenced Caldwell, who is now living on Church Street in Eccles, to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Caldwell is also required to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and participate in 25 days of rehabilitative programs.

Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register and issued an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.