JOHN HENDERSON FROM HEADS NOOK FACES SEVERE CHARGES OVER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN NORTH CUMBRIA

In August 2022, a man from Heads Nook, a small village near Brampton in North Cumbria, was brought before the magistrates at Rickergate Court in Carlisle to face serious allegations related to child abuse images. John Henderson, aged 25, pleaded guilty to multiple charges concerning the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, leading to his placement on the Sex Offender Register.

Henderson admitted to possessing a total of 78 indecent images, categorized into three levels of severity. Specifically, he acknowledged possessing 40 images classified as Category A, which is considered the most severe and disturbing type of child abuse imagery. Additionally, he admitted to possessing 16 images categorized as Category B and 22 images classified as Category C. Beyond mere possession, Henderson also downloaded 78 indecent images and was found guilty of distributing images classified as Category A.

The offences related to possession were committed on October 15, 2020, while the distribution of the images took place over a period from May 12, 2020, to October 16, 2020. During this period, six images classified as Category A were shared, involving children depicted in highly disturbing and illegal content, as the court was informed.

Prosecutor Pam Ward explained that Henderson’s offending was uncovered after police received a referral from an external law enforcement agency in October 2020, concerning the downloading of indecent images. Following this tip-off, officers executed a search warrant at Henderson’s residence. The police seized electronic devices capable of connecting to the internet, including a mobile phone and a computer tower. At the time of the search, Henderson’s parents and another family member were present in the house, while Henderson was in his bedroom.

Henderson cooperated with the police by handing over his mobile phone, and the devices were subsequently sent for forensic analysis. The investigation revealed illegal content on both devices, with the most serious images being Category A. Given the gravity of these offences, the magistrates decided that the case was too serious to be dealt with at their level and ordered that Henderson be transferred to the Crown Court for sentencing.

In court, the magistrates informed Henderson that he would now be subject to interim registration on the Sex Offender Register. This requires him to report to his local police station within three days, providing personal details such as his name, national insurance number, bank and passport information, and any addresses where he resides or intends to stay. If he plans to travel abroad, he must give police seven days’ notice before departure.

Supporters of Henderson, his family members, were present during the hearing. The case has been scheduled for sentencing at Carlisle Crown Court on September 6. The length and conditions of his registration on the Sex Offender Register will depend on the final sentence handed down by the court, which could range from a minimum of three years in custody, considering the severity of the offences involved.