KENNETH WOODWARD FROM ADLINGTON CAUGHT WITH OVER 100 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES BUT ESCAPES JAIL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Adlington, Kenneth Woodward, a 62-year-old engineer, was found to be in possession of more than 100 indecent images depicting children. Despite the severity of the material, Woodward was not sentenced to immediate imprisonment but was instead given a suspended jail term, highlighting a controversial approach to such crimes.

At Chester Crown Court, Woodward pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing such images. The court was informed that he would serve a six-month jail sentence, suspended for a period, meaning he would not go to prison unless he committed further offences. In addition to this, Judge Recorder Tanya Griffiths emphasized the importance of education in preventing future harm, stating, “I agree the best way to protect children from you is to try and educate you.”

As part of his sentence, Woodward is also required to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service and participate in a 35-day rehabilitation activity order, aimed at addressing his behavior and preventing recurrence.

The case was initiated after police received a tip-off indicating that indecent images had been uploaded from Woodward’s IP address. Following this, officers from the paedophile and cyber investigation team conducted a raid at an address where Woodward was known to stay, which was described as a residence he sometimes visited, located on Wood Lane West.

During the search, authorities discovered a disturbing collection of images, including seven Category A images, which are classified as the most severe, four Category B images, and a total of 144 Category C images. Some of these images were in the form of videos of considerable length, indicating a significant level of material.

In police interviews, Woodward claimed that his interest in such images was driven by a ‘morbid fascination’ rather than any sexual motivation. He also admitted to possessing extreme pornographic images, which added to the gravity of the case. The investigation revealed that Woodward was ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ between his own residence and his girlfriend’s address, suggesting a pattern of behavior that authorities found concerning.

This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling online child exploitation and the complex judicial decisions involved in sentencing offenders who possess such heinous material, especially when courts consider rehabilitation and education as part of the sentencing process.