JOSEPH SHAW FROM STANDISH SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND GUN IN GREATER MANCHESTER

In a case that has shocked the local community, Joseph Shaw, a former councillor from Standish, was sentenced to a total of six years in prison after being found guilty of possessing child abuse images and an illegal firearm. The incident came to light when police were called to Wigan town hall following reports that Shaw, aged 42, had indecent images of children stored on his home computer, which was located in his residence in Standish.

During a detailed investigation, authorities discovered nearly 2,000 indecent photographs on Shaw’s personal computer. Among these images, some were classified as level five, indicating the most severe category of child abuse material. Shaw was charged with and admitted to possessing 17 counts of indecent images of children, a crime that has profound implications given the nature of the material involved.

In addition to the child abuse images, police uncovered a prohibited weapon—a Smith & Wesson revolver—along with ammunition, both stored in a safe within Shaw’s bedroom. Shaw did not possess a license for the firearm or the ammunition, which led to further charges. During police interviews, Shaw claimed that he had downloaded the images by mistake, asserting that he had no malicious intent. He also stated that the gun had been given to him two decades ago by a man he only knew as Bill.

The court proceedings resulted in Shaw receiving a five-year prison sentence for the firearm possession and an additional one-year term for the possession of indecent images. The two-year sentence for the ammunition possession was ordered to run concurrently, effectively serving as part of the overall sentence. Shaw’s resignation from the Wigan Metropolitan Council was also noted, and he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a period of ten years, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

Detective Constable Phil White of Greater Manchester Police expressed his outrage over Shaw’s actions, stating, “Shaw systematically collected hundreds of appalling images for his own sick ends. Each one of these images is the result of trauma and physical abuse meted out to the victims. These offences are shocking enough, but the fact that Shaw carried them out while serving the local community as a councillor is even worse.”