GEORGE KNEEN FROM WEST KIRBY CAUGHT WITH CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN WIRRAL

In November 2014, authorities uncovered a disturbing case involving a pensioner from West Kirby, Wirral, who was found to possess a large collection of indecent images of children. The investigation was initiated after Canadian law enforcement agencies, working to dismantle an international child exploitation network, tipped off Merseyside police about the presence of illegal material linked to this individual.

During a detailed search of Geoffrey Kneen’s residence on Greenbank Road in West Kirby, authorities discovered over 1,000 repulsive images stored on his laptop. Among these was a particularly disturbing file, described as a 'pre-internet' collage, which contained photographs of naked boys. The images were classified under the categories used by the Crown Prosecution Service, with 34 pictures falling into Category B and a staggering 1,265 into Category C. Category A images, which are deemed the most severe, were not reported in this case.

The investigation was part of a broader operation led by Toronto police, which uncovered a company known as Azov Films. This firm was involved in selling explicit videos depicting children from Eastern Europe, including scenes shot in Crimea, a region that was part of Ukraine before its annexation by Russia earlier that year. The Toronto authorities successfully prosecuted the producers of these films in their respective countries, and records of transactions from UK buyers, including Kneen, were obtained during the investigation.

Neil Addison, the prosecutor representing the Crown at Liverpool Crown Court, explained that the investigation was initiated after Canadian police raided Azov Films and identified numerous UK customers. Among these was Geoffrey Kneen, who, in 2010, purchased four DVDs containing illegal content. These DVDs included scenes from Crimea, further highlighting the international scope of the exploitation ring.

Following the evidence gathered, police in Merseyside arrested Kneen. During the subsequent court proceedings, it was revealed that he had a collection of nine DVDs and a file containing the collage of images of naked boys aged approximately 8 to 16 years. His guilty plea to eight charges of making and possessing indecent images was entered at Wirral Magistrates’ Court last month.

Representing Kneen, solicitor Kate Morley stated that her client had accepted responsibility for his actions. She emphasized that Kneen acknowledged the email address linked to his purchases and admitted to buying the DVDs. Morley also highlighted the personal toll the case had taken on him, including the loss of his relationship with his family and his intention to move home due to community concerns. She described his willingness to seek help and acknowledged the devastating consequences of his actions.

Judge Lewis sentenced Kneen to a three-year community order. During the sentencing, the judge criticized Kneen’s bizarre assertion during police interviews that some of the boys in the images appeared happy, emphasizing that such claims ignored the possibility of coercion or force. The judge underscored the seriousness of the offense, warning that anyone who believes such crimes are victimless is profoundly mistaken, and stressed the importance of protecting children from exploitation.