GARY MULLIGAN FROM HANDFORTH ESCAPES IMMEDIATE JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY IN MANCHESTER

In a case that has shocked the community of Handforth and the wider Manchester area, Gary Terrence Mulligan, aged 53, of Chelforth Road, was found in possession of an alarming collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light after police executed a search warrant at Mulligan's residence on August 10, 2018, leading to the seizure of multiple electronic devices, including a laptop, a mobile phone, and two USB drives.

During the investigation, authorities uncovered evidence that Mulligan had engaged in explicit online searches using terms such as 'free underage vids' and 'pre-teen vids,' indicating a disturbing pattern of interest. The police also discovered that Mulligan possessed a vast array of illicit material, including six images classified as Category A, which is considered the most severe, along with 17 images in Category B and 423 in Category C. Additionally, there were 12 extreme pornographic images and 23 prohibited computer-generated images depicting child abuse, some of which were shared via social media platforms like Facebook.

Prosecutor Julian Goode outlined the details of the case at Minshull Street Crown Court, emphasizing that Mulligan had been arrested and subsequently interviewed twice. During his initial interview, Mulligan admitted to possessing the images and acknowledged that they were stored on his devices. He also confessed to having a sexual interest in children and revealed that he had been viewing such material for several years. In a subsequent interview, Mulligan further admitted to distributing one of the prohibited CGI images through Facebook.

Her Honour Judge Nield addressed Mulligan directly during the sentencing hearing on Thursday, February 11. She described the images Mulligan possessed as 'almost every type' of indecent imagery of children that could be charged, emphasizing the severity and depravity of the material. The judge highlighted that the images depicted very young children engaged in sexual activities far beyond their years, which would have a profound and lasting impact on the victims' future lives and relationships.

Judge Nield pointed out that the most serious charge involved Mulligan's possession of Category A images, which she described as 'wholly repugnant' to any right-minded individual. She explained that had Mulligan been charged with distributing images of actual children, he would have faced immediate custody. However, considering Mulligan's remorse, his cooperation with authorities, and his frank admissions, the court decided to impose a suspended sentence. The judge noted that Mulligan's risk of reoffending or posing a danger to the public was assessed as low, and the Probation Service expressed willingness to work with him through specialized internet offender programs.

As part of his sentence, Mulligan received an eight-month prison term, which was suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to wear an electronic monitoring tag for four months, with a night-time curfew from 7 pm to 7 am. Furthermore, Mulligan is required to complete a rehabilitation program with the probation service, register as a sex offender for the next ten years, and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The court's decision reflects a balance between the gravity of the offenses and the circumstances of the defendant, aiming to protect the community while offering Mulligan a chance at rehabilitation.