MARK FORRESTER FROM UPTON-ON-SEVERN CONVICTED OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AT WORCESTER CROWN COURT

In a case that has shocked the community of Upton-on-Severn, Mark Forrester, a 29-year-old former trainee accountant, was found guilty of possessing a significant collection of child pornography. The conviction was handed down at Worcester Crown Court, where the jury determined that Forrester had in his possession a total of 421 explicit photographs depicting minors. The court proceedings revealed the disturbing extent of his activities, which included the downloading and storage of these illicit images on multiple computers.

Despite the conviction, the judge, Recorder David Williams QC, emphasized that Forrester was fortunate not to face immediate imprisonment. He sentenced Forrester to a three-year community order, a punishment that involves strict supervision and compliance with certain conditions. The judge also expressed his dismay that Forrester, in a pre-sentence report, continued to deny the allegations and refused to accept the verdict, which was a source of concern for the court.

Furthermore, the case was complicated by a jury's failure to reach a verdict on seven other counts related to the making of indecent photographs of children. These counts involved allegations that Forrester had downloaded such images from the internet. The prosecution decided not to pursue a retrial on these charges, effectively ending the case against him on those counts.

Investigations into Forrester’s activities were initiated after authorities discovered family photographs of his ex-partner and their baby on a paedophile’s computer in Manchester. This discovery prompted police to conduct a raid on his former residence located in The Heights, Ronkswood, Worcester. During the search, officers found the child pornography material stored on three different computers. It was alleged that Forrester was the sole individual with regular access to all three computers during the period from June 2003 to January 2007.

Rebecca Cook, Forrester’s former partner, provided testimony during the trial. She stated that she only used one of the computers to check her emails and had left Forrester in 2007. The court heard that the investigation was initiated after the police found the illicit images on the computers, which had been used by Forrester during the specified period.

Throughout the proceedings, Forrester maintained that he was interested only in adult pornography and insisted he had no interest in children. His legal representative, Martin Steen, argued that other individuals could have had access to the computers, suggesting that Forrester might not have been the sole user or owner of the devices involved. Despite these claims, the jury found him guilty of possessing the child pornography, leading to the sentencing and the conditions imposed by the court.