JOHN BULLAMORE FROM WHINMOOR: LEEDS CHURCH MINISTER CAUGHT WITH CHILD AND ANIMAL ABUSE IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, John Bullamore, a 76-year-old Anglican minister residing in Whinmoor, Leeds, was found to have accessed and stored hundreds of highly illegal and depraved images depicting the sexual abuse of children and animals. The revelation came after police investigations uncovered the extent of his involvement with these disturbing materials, which he had been viewing from his home on Hornbeam Way in Whinmoor for over two years.

In June of this year, officers from West Yorkshire Police executed a search warrant at Bullamore’s residence following credible intelligence indicating that illegal images had been accessed from a computer linked to his address. During the operation, law enforcement officials seized various computer devices and digital storage media. A thorough examination of the seized equipment revealed a total of 553 illegal images, with 175 classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of offending involving the exploitation of children.

Further analysis uncovered images depicting the sexual abuse of horses, adding to the disturbing nature of the material found. The investigation revealed that Bullamore had used a social media sharing platform to access these images, employing search terms such as “kids,” “toddler,” and “naked” to locate the illicit content. Despite being questioned by police, Bullamore chose not to comment on the allegations against him.

Eventually, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent images of a child, one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child, and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images. His guilty plea brought him before Leeds Crown Court, where he faced sentencing for his crimes.

Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, presided over the case and delivered a stern judgment. He sentenced Bullamore to 12 months in prison, though the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period. Additionally, Bullamore was ordered to participate in a 15-day rehabilitation program aimed at addressing his offending behavior.

In his remarks, Judge Bayliss emphasized the profound breach of trust and moral responsibility involved in Bullamore’s actions. He stated, “You will, for the rest of your life, have to live with the shame these convictions will bring. You were a pillar of the community. You were an Anglican minister. You were trusted by the community. But you are also a paedophile. You are a hypocrite. One who contrived to give a false appearance of virtue and goodness.” The judge further condemned Bullamore for his role in encouraging the sexual abuse of children through his illicit activities, highlighting the severity of his betrayal of community trust and moral standards.