HARRY MCDONALD FROM BOLTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Bolton, Harry McDonald, a 38-year-old former prison officer, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being found guilty of possessing and creating indecent images of children. The incident came to light when police uncovered a significant collection of illegal material stored on computers registered to McDonald's wife during his arrest at his residence in Whalley Avenue, Johnson Fold, Bolton, on May 5, 2005.

McDonald faced a total of 17 charges, including 15 counts of making indecent photographs of a child and two counts of possession of such images. The police investigation revealed that he had downloaded a staggering 376 images along with a video depicting child abuse. These findings led to his guilty plea in March of the same year, marking a serious breach of trust and legal boundaries.

During the court proceedings at Bolton Crown Court, the judge, Gillian Ruaux, took into account McDonald's guilty plea and the circumstances surrounding his case. Despite the gravity of his actions, she opted to impose a nine-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years. This means that McDonald will only serve time if he commits further offences within this period.

In her remarks, Judge Ruaux acknowledged the personal toll the case had taken on McDonald, noting that he had lost his wife, his home, and his employment with the Prison Service. Additionally, he has been deprived of access to his two children, highlighting the profound consequences of his actions beyond the courtroom.

She expressed her disapproval of the possession of such disturbing images, stating, “Why you should wish to keep these disgusting images on your computer, I cannot imagine.” The court also ordered the destruction of both computers involved in the case to prevent further access to illegal material.

Furthermore, McDonald was subjected to a two-year sex offender’s treatment order, and he was banned indefinitely from working with children. He is also required to register as a sex offender for five years and pay court costs amounting to £250. These measures aim to monitor and prevent any future offending, emphasizing the seriousness with which the court views such crimes.