GEORGE GRAHAM SHOPS CHILD PORN IN LLANSANTFFRAID AND OSWESTRY

In July 2009, a disturbing case emerged involving Geoffrey Graham, a man with deep ties to the communities of Llansantffraid and Oswestry in Shropshire. Graham, aged 53, who previously worked as a physical education teacher at Walford and North Shropshire College in Oswestry, was found to have stored a significant number of illegal images on his personal computer. His background also includes managing the Ellesmere Rangers Football Club, further embedding him within the local sports scene.

Graham’s criminal activities came to light after he was cautioned by police for posting indecent comments of a sexual nature over the internet. During the investigation, authorities uncovered a troubling cache of over 130 images depicting children engaged in sexual activities. These images ranged in age from approximately 10 to 15 years old, with some children shown in underwear, while older teenagers appeared naked. The images were stored in various files, including one labeled “college sports,” indicating a possible connection to his past employment or interests.

The police search of Graham’s residence, located in Tan y Foel, Bryn Cain, Llansantffraid, revealed not only the images stored on his computer but also additional photographs downloaded from a digital camera. Although these photographs did not form part of the formal charges, they provided insight into Graham’s inappropriate behavior. Prosecutor Sion ap Mihangel described the images as depicting school sporting activities, some of which showed teenage girls in extremely short skirts, with some photographs taken covertly. One particularly disturbing image showed a girl bending over during a netball game, captured without her knowledge.

Further investigation revealed that Graham had created files titled “college sports” and had been communicating with others via Yahoo, suggesting he was actively sharing or seeking similar material online. The police found that some images depicted young girls in various states of undress, raising serious concerns about his conduct and intentions.

Graham faced multiple charges, including five counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing such images. During his court appearance at Mold Crown Court, Judge Philip Hughes acknowledged that offenses of this nature typically result in imprisonment. However, given Graham’s guilty plea and the circumstances of the case, the judge opted for a more lenient sentence. Graham was sentenced to an 18-month community order, which requires him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next five years, and he was permanently barred from working with children or accessing the internet during this period, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the need for ongoing supervision.