SALE MAN MICHAEL WHEELER SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN SALE

In June 2011, a disturbing case emerged involving Michael Wheeler, a man from Sale who was found to possess an alarming collection of indecent images of children. Wheeler, who is wheelchair-bound, was discovered to have downloaded more than 27,400 such images, a revelation that shocked the local community and drew significant attention from law enforcement authorities.

Michael Wheeler, aged 58, had become increasingly isolated at his mother’s residence in Sale, where he spent long hours confined indoors due to his health conditions. His obsession with obtaining illicit images was reportedly fueled by his depression and physical disabilities, which included a diagnosis of a rare blood cancer. Wheeler’s fixation extended to images of young girls as young as seven, some of which were classified at the most severe level of offending, including a 15-minute video that was deemed highly extreme.

Prosecutor Jill Yates explained to the court that Wheeler had been confined to a wheelchair since 2005 and had become profoundly depressed. She stated, “He moved in with his mother because he needed support and began, while living there, to download images. This became an obsession because he was housebound.” The authorities uncovered Wheeler’s illicit activities after executing a raid on his home in June 2009, following a tip-off that he was ordering indecent images through the mail. During the search, police seized his computer equipment and discovered the extensive collection of illegal material.

Wheeler admitted to 22 counts of making indecent images. He claimed to have an interest in the girls depicted in the images but insisted that he had downloaded the files in bulk without fully understanding their content. His background included work as a computer operator for various companies both in Britain and internationally, and he had even designed computer games. However, his health had deteriorated over the years, with diagnoses of multiple sclerosis in 1982, rheumatoid arthritis in 2000, and a rare form of leukemia since 2007.

Defense lawyer Richard Littler highlighted Wheeler’s dependency on the internet, describing it as a ‘lifeline’ during his years of isolation. Littler explained, “He was in the flat alone with very few visitors for many years. The only thing he could do was go on the internet. Through curiosity he began to look at these sites. He’s embarrassed by his conduct and he wants to put it behind him.”

In sentencing, Judge Jeffrey Lewis ordered Wheeler to serve four months in prison for each of the offenses, to be served concurrently. However, the prison sentence was suspended for 12 months, meaning Wheeler would not serve time immediately but would be under supervision during this period. Additionally, Wheeler was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts him from working with children or having unsupervised contact with any child under 16. Police officers retain the authority to enter his home at any time and search his computer. Wheeler was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the next seven years.

Judge Lewis addressed Wheeler directly, stating, “This must be a difficult day for you. You have no previous convictions. I accept you must be embarrassed or ashamed with what you have done. Notwithstanding the very unfortunate circumstances that have affected you in recent years, you cannot offer that as an excuse for this offending.”

Following the case, Detective Constable John Weir from Greater Manchester Police’s Sexual Crimes Unit emphasized the broader implications of such offenses. He remarked, “The actions of Wheeler and others who download and share illegal images like this fuel the trade of child sexual abuse. I want to send out a clear message to anyone who thinks they can get hold of these vile images and get away with it – you will be pursued, you will be and tracked down by the police and you will be brought before the courts.”