PATRICK CONLAN FROM LINCOLN AND NORMANTON JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Lincoln and Normanton, Patrick Conlan, a man with a troubling criminal history, has been convicted and sentenced for possessing highly indecent images of children. The case unfolded in Derby Crown Court, where the details of Conlan's actions and past offenses were laid bare, revealing a pattern of disturbing behavior that spanned several years.

Conlan, aged 42 and residing on Holcombe Street in Normanton, had previously been charged with the sexual assault of a five-year-old girl in Lincoln. While he was out on bail awaiting trial for that serious offense, authorities uncovered further evidence of his disturbing interests. During a police raid on July 9, officers seized his computer, which was later found to contain two videos depicting sexual acts involving children. One of these videos was classified as category five, the highest level of indecency, indicating extreme material of a sexual nature involving minors.

Conlan claimed that the videos appeared on his computer as pop-up advertisements while he was attempting to download adult pornography. His legal representative, Michael Cranmer-Brown, argued that his client had not actively sought out child pornography sites and that he had even contacted the police himself to report the presence of these videos on his device. Despite this, the court was presented with evidence that painted a far more troubling picture.

Police had conducted a thorough investigation, and the court heard that Conlan had a long history of sexual indecency offenses dating back to 2003. His previous convictions included indecent assault on a 14-year-old girl, as well as offenses involving girls aged 11, five, and seven. These prior convictions underscored a pattern of predatory behavior and a persistent interest in exploiting young girls.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor James Allen highlighted that Conlan had admitted to viewing pornography daily during police interviews. The prosecution emphasized the danger posed by his continued access to children, especially given that he was already disqualified from working with minors. The police had requested that his computer be confiscated to prevent further access to such material.

Judge John Burgess, presiding over the case, expressed his disgust upon viewing the videos, each approximately 15 minutes long. He described the category four video as particularly distressing, even more so than the category five clip. The judge made it clear that Conlan's possession of these videos was a grave offense, especially considering his bail status for the Lincoln assault case involving a five-year-old girl.

Addressing Conlan directly, Judge Burgess stated, "You accept that these videos are on your hard drive and you kept them for your own sexual gratification. You committed this offense while you were out on bail for an offense in Lincoln with a five-year-old girl and you also have two other previous convictions. I have seen the videos and they are absolutely revolting. They show a child being utterly degraded. This evil market (for child pornography) exists because of people like you, and children suffer harm because of you. You are contributing to this market."

In sentencing, Conlan received a total of 14 months in prison for the possession of indecent images, to run consecutively with his previous sentence. He had already been sentenced to two years and nine months for the Lincoln assault. Additionally, the court imposed restrictions on his use of computers, requiring that he only access such devices in the presence of a police officer to prevent further offenses.

This case highlights the ongoing battle against child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in uncovering and prosecuting individuals involved in such heinous crimes. The communities of Lincoln and Normanton are left to grapple with the disturbing realities of Conlan's actions and the broader issue of child abuse and exploitation.