KEITH WHITELEY FROM BARNOLDSWICK SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ABUSE IN BURNLEY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Keith Whiteley, a 44-year-old man originally from Barnoldswick, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving child exploitation and possession of indecent images. The offences took place while Whiteley was residing in Burnley, where he was working as a web developer at the time.

Whiteley's criminal activities included luring two six-year-old girls to his residence under false pretenses, where he took photographs of them. These young victims were subjected to indecent images, and Whiteley was actively grooming them, seemingly preparing for potential future acts of abuse. The court heard that his actions were part of a broader pattern of disturbing behavior.

Authorities later uncovered a vast collection of illegal material on Whiteley's computer, amounting to tens of thousands of obscene images. Among these were particularly disturbing photographs depicting adults engaged in full sexual intercourse with children under the age of five. The severity of the material found was described as deeply troubling by the court.

During the hearing at Burnley Crown Court, Judge Barbara Watson expressed her profound concern over the nature of the images and the impact on the victims. She noted that some of the photographs depicted very young children being subjected to abuse, humiliation, and bondage. The judge also remarked on Whiteley's admitted inability to control his urges, highlighting his previous convictions for molesting minors.

Judge Watson, having reviewed a sample of the pornography, emphasized her overwhelming concern for the young victims depicted in the images. She pointed out that previous attempts at treatment for sex offenders had proven ineffective in Whiteley's case.

Whiteley pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of child abduction, six counts of making indecent photographs of a child, and six counts of possessing such images. In addition to his prison sentence, the court imposed an extended license period of three years, mandated that he sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, and prohibited him from working with children in any capacity.

During the proceedings, Mr. Mark Stuart, representing Whiteley, stated that the defendant was making efforts to stay away from child pornography while under supervision, suggesting some level of remorse or attempt at rehabilitation. However, the court's primary concern remained the protection of the community and the severity of Whiteley's crimes.