MARC FLETCHER FROM WYNYARD CAUGHT DISTRIBUTING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN TEESSIDE

In July 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Marc Fletcher, a man residing in Wynyard, who was found to have been involved in the possession and distribution of illegal child abuse images. Fletcher, aged 48, admitted to police that he had been downloading and sharing indecent images of children over a period of several years, a revelation that shocked the local community and drew significant attention from law enforcement authorities.

Authorities became aware of Fletcher’s activities after he was caught sending two indecent images of children via email. This led to a police visit to his home, where they seized a laptop and a hard drive. The investigation uncovered a staggering collection of 3,662 indecent images of children, including numerous duplicates. Some of these images depicted children as young as two years old being subjected to abuse, according to prosecutor David Crook during the court proceedings at Teesside Crown Court.

Fletcher admitted that he had been viewing and saving these images for approximately three years. His online activity included engaging in sexual conversations on open public websites, where he also shared images with others. These exchanges, which occurred over a span of two to three years, often involved attempts by participants to shock each other with increasingly extreme content. Despite his admissions, Fletcher maintained that he had no sexual interest in children and claimed that his intent in sharing the images was solely to shock the individuals he was chatting with.

While Fletcher acknowledged possessing and sharing the images, evidence presented in court confirmed that he had only sent two indecent images via Skype. He faced multiple charges, including two counts of making indecent photographs of children, one count of distributing such images, and possession of 90 images depicting extreme pornography involving animals. Notably, Fletcher had no prior criminal record before these offences, which spanned from 2009 to 2015.

During the hearing, Fletcher’s defense solicitor, Kate Dodds, explained that Fletcher had been forthcoming with police, even directing them to the material before any evidence was formally presented. She emphasized that Fletcher was not motivated by sexual interest in children but was instead seeking material to shock and exchange with others online. Dodds described Fletcher as naive and unsophisticated, someone who kept all his files on his computer without deleting anything, and who was motivated by curiosity rather than sexual predation. She also highlighted that Fletcher was a respected full-time worker and a family man, expressing concern over how imprisonment might impact his employment and personal life.

Judge Recorder Andrew Dallas addressed Fletcher directly, acknowledging the gravity of the offences. He stated, “Your presence here today is no doubt as humiliating for you as I hope you recognize it needs to be. This is your only blemish on an otherwise excellent, useful, hard-working life. This was serious material. This material exists because people like you are prepared to download it. Children are abused in dreadful ways in order for that material to be generated. This was systematic behaviour for several years.”

Despite Fletcher’s claims of naivety and regret, the court and probation services did not accept his explanation, viewing it as a “smokescreen.” They concluded that Fletcher had downloaded the images for his own sexual gratification. Given his previous good character, admissions, and family support, Fletcher narrowly avoided immediate imprisonment. Instead, he was sentenced to a one-year jail term, suspended for two years, with additional requirements including 20 days of rehabilitation activities, a fine of £535, and a sexual harm prevention order restricting his computer and internet use for ten years. Furthermore, Fletcher was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, underscoring the serious nature of his offences and the lasting impact on his life and reputation.