GORDON ASPDEN FROM HELSBY FACES COURT OVER CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN CHESTER

In January 2021, a serious case involving Gordon Aspden, a 71-year-old resident of Bates Lane in Helsby, unfolded at Chester Crown Court, highlighting disturbing allegations of possessing indecent images of children. Aspden, a former school teacher, was described during proceedings as having an “unhealthy obsession with spanking,” a detail that added to the gravity of his offenses.

He had previously admitted to owning both indecent and prohibited images of minors when he appeared before magistrates, setting the stage for a more detailed sentencing hearing at Chester Crown Court on Monday, January 18. During this hearing, Judge Patrick Thompson addressed the court, noting that if an immediate custodial sentence were to be imposed, Aspden would only serve a few weeks in jail under the guidelines, and crucially, no measures would be taken to address his “twisted sexual interest.”

Instead, Judge Thompson chose to suspend the prison sentence, opting for a two-year community order that would include mandatory rehabilitation. Additionally, Aspden was placed under a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which restricts his access to computers and the internet, and prohibits him from contacting children under the age of 16.

Prosecutor Mark Phillips outlined the disturbing details of the case, revealing that police found a total of 37 indecent images on Aspden’s devices. Among these, four were classified as Category A, the most serious level, depicting children aged between three and five being spanked on their bare bottoms with a wooden bat. There was also one Category B image showing a girl aged between eight and ten, and 32 Category C images featuring naked girls aged five to six.

Further compounding the case, authorities discovered 10 prohibited images, which consisted of drawings of naked girls being hit on their bare bottoms with a bat. The court was initially unable to receive detailed descriptions of these prohibited images, leading to a 10-day delay in sentencing to allow for further evidence submission. The images were believed to date back to 2010.

During police interviews, Aspden, who had no prior convictions, admitted to an obsession with spanking and expressed remorse for his actions. Judge Thompson voiced his concern about Aspden’s background, emphasizing the troubling nature of his obsession, especially given his former role as a teacher. The judge stated, “It’s vile behaviour. I don’t care if they are still images; the children are being abused.”

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Thompson condemned Aspden’s conduct, stating, “You should be hanging your head in shame. You have disgraced yourself. The public is horrified by men like you searching for images of children in distress being beaten.” He warned that if Aspden did not address his sexual interests, he risked returning to court and facing imprisonment. The judge also highlighted that a prison sentence would likely result in only a few weeks of incarceration without addressing the underlying issues.

Consequently, Aspden was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. He is required to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities and perform 150 hours of unpaid community work to give back to society. The court also imposed a 10-year SHPO, restricting his use of computers and the internet, and forbidding contact with minors under 16. Aspden is mandated to register as a sex offender for the next decade and pay £425 in prosecution costs along with a victim surcharge. The court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all electronic devices used to access the illegal images.

Earlier, on January 8, Aspden appeared at Chester Crown Court after admitting to owning indecent and prohibited images. Prosecutor Claire Jones detailed that police had found four Category A images, depicting children aged three to five being spanked with a wooden bat, along with other images of minors in various states of undress. However, the court was initially unable to proceed with sentencing because police had not provided descriptions of the prohibited images, which caused a delay.

Judge Thompson expressed frustration over the police’s failure to submit the necessary evidence, emphasizing that the lack of information prevented him from issuing a proper sentence. He criticized the police for not taking the case seriously enough, stating, “It’s not just this case; I don’t know if the police are taking it seriously enough. I think the public would take the view it was very serious.”

Further investigation revealed that police had executed a search warrant at Aspden’s home on June 26, 2018, recovering three digital devices: an HP Tower, a laptop, and a pen drive. These devices contained the images in question, dating back to 2010. Aspden’s internet history also showed searches related to knickers for purchase. When questioned, Aspden claimed he was not seeking indecent images but was simply searching for “spanking.” He admitted to buying underwear from charity shops and engaging in sex acts involving them, suggesting that he considered his behavior an “addiction.” He also believed that images of children being spanked or prohibited images were legal, a misconception that contributed to his actions.

Despite his guilty plea at Chester Magistrates Court on December 11, 2020, the case was delayed for sentencing to allow police to provide further evidence regarding the prohibited images and to explain why this evidence had not been initially included. Aspden was released on bail, with strict conditions including restrictions on his computer use, pending the final sentencing hearing.

Throughout the proceedings, Judge Thompson made it clear that all sentencing options remained open, including the possibility of imprisonment, should Aspden fail to address his underlying issues or comply with court orders. The case underscores the ongoing concern over individuals with access to children and the importance of rigorous law enforcement in handling such sensitive cases.