HAROLD COLCLOUGH SENTENCED IN KIDSGROVE FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Kidsgrove, pensioner Harold Colclough was sentenced to prison after a series of disturbing discoveries linked to his possession and creation of indecent images involving minors. The incident came to light on May 10, 2012, when police responded to a report at Colclough’s residence in Kidsgrove concerning a female who was found naked and unconscious. Although initial allegations made by the female did not lead to immediate investigations, law enforcement officers returned to his home the following day to conduct a thorough search.

During the search, authorities uncovered a troubling collection of material stored on Colclough’s computer and camera. The items included hundreds of photographs, some of which depicted a 16-year-old girl who was present at the address. Alongside these images, the police found a variety of sex toys, vibrators, suspender belts, condoms, women’s clothing, and a significant amount of extreme pornography. The presence of such items raised serious concerns about the nature of Colclough’s activities and the exploitation involved.

Prosecutor Walter Bealby addressed the court, revealing that several of the images were of the young girl found at the scene. In police interviews, Colclough admitted ownership of the items and acknowledged taking photographs of a female under the age of 18. He claimed that he had intended to pay the girl for a photo shoot, as she expressed a desire to become a model. Colclough stated that he kept the photographs on his computer to view later and that he obtained the extreme pornographic images from a friend. Importantly, he maintained that he was not distributing or selling these images, but his possession of such material was enough to warrant serious charges.

Harold Colclough, who resides on Heathcote Street in Kidsgrove, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of taking indecent photographs of children, three counts of making indecent photographs of children, possession of indecent images of children, and possession of an extreme pornographic image. His legal representative, Peter McCartney, argued that the girl involved was aged 16 or 17, and pointed out the peculiarities of the law, which allows for sexual activity at 16 but restricts the taking of photographs of minors. McCartney emphasized that Colclough believed the girl was 16, which he claimed was a legal threshold in his mind.

He further explained that Colclough had experienced personal difficulties, including the loss of his business and depression following a divorce. The defense lawyer described his client as someone who had learned his lesson and was now aware of the distress caused by his actions. Despite these mitigating factors, the judge, Paul Glenn, emphasized the severity of the offenses. The court heard that some of the images involved very young children, with some classified at level four, indicating the most severe category of abuse for entertainment purposes.

In light of the gravity of the crimes, Judge Glenn sentenced Colclough to six months in prison. The judge also ordered that Colclough be placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years and imposed restrictions preventing him from engaging in activities involving children and vulnerable adults. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding minors and the serious consequences faced by those who violate these protections in Kidsgrove and beyond.