NICHOLAS BLAND FROM WHALLEY RANGE SENTENCED FOR CHILD AND ANIMAL PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Nicholas Bland, a 32-year-old man from Whalley Range, was found to possess a disturbing collection of extreme and illegal images on his computer. The investigation was triggered when Bland contacted police in March of the previous year, reporting that unknown men were attempting to break into his flat on Manley Road, Whalley Range. Officers responded to his call early in the morning and discovered him partially dressed, hunched over a laptop, actively downloading child pornography.

At the time of this incident, Bland was identified as a paranoid schizophrenic and was subsequently sectioned for mental health treatment. Despite his condition, authorities continued their investigation, and in October, after his mental health had shown signs of improvement, police returned to arrest him on suspicion of possessing illegal images of children. During the subsequent search, officers found that Bland had replaced the computer that had initially been seized. When the new device was examined, it was revealed that he had stored images depicting animals being subjected to abuse, including a snake, a horse, and a dog. These images were classified as extreme pornography, which has been illegal in the UK since 2008.

Further court proceedings revealed that Bland led an itinerant lifestyle, moving from place to place without a fixed residence. He faced a total of 48 charges related to the possession of extreme and child pornography. During his trial at Manchester Crown Court, Bland admitted to these charges. The court heard that he had not distributed the images nor sought to connect with others who shared similar interests, suggesting a solitary and secretive behavior.

Judge Martin Rudland delivered the sentence, which included a two-year community order coupled with a requirement for mental health treatment. The judge described the case as tragic, emphasizing Bland’s intelligence and capability, which were overshadowed by his mental illness. He stated, “This is a tragic case in its way. You are a capable man, you are an intelligent man and you have been since you were a student sadly afflicted by mental illness. There’s no suggestion you have distributed these images or sought to get in touch with likeminded individuals.”

Additionally, Bland was issued an indefinite sexual offences prevention order. This order prohibits him from using any device capable of accessing the internet unless it is configured to retain and display his internet browsing history, aiming to prevent further offenses and monitor his online activity closely.