ELLESMERE PORT PAEDOPHILE PAUL PRICE SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN ELLSMERE PORT
In a significant case that has shocked the community of Ellesmere Port, Paul Price, a resident of Jersey Avenue in the Stanney Oaks area, has been convicted and sentenced for possessing a substantial collection of indecent images of children.The court proceedings, held on Monday, November 26, revealed that Price was found in possession of a total of 201 such images, which led to his conviction on four separate counts.
Price, aged 49, faced a sentencing that included an eight-month prison term, reflecting the severity of his actions.
In addition to his imprisonment, the court imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, aimed at restricting his access to online content and contact with minors.
Furthermore, he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £140.
The case underscores the ongoing concerns about child exploitation and the importance of rigorous law enforcement in tackling such offenses.
This incident marks the second time Paul Price has been convicted of a similar offense.
His previous conviction in 2009 involved the discovery of over 1,500 indecent images of children as young as five on his computer.
That earlier case brought to light the extent of his involvement in the possession of child abuse material, and the current case further highlights his continued engagement in such illegal activities.
Back in January 2009, Price, then 39 years old, was caught with a staggering collection of more than 1,500 images depicting child sexual abuse.
He admitted to two charges of possessing indecent images and 15 charges of making them when he appeared before Chester Crown Court.
The police had seized his computer on July 6, 2007, during an unrelated investigation.
Despite attempts to conceal the images by renaming files and installing software to wipe data, analysts managed to recover a significant number of images, including 798 that had been deleted but were recoverable through specialized software.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Myles Wilson detailed the extent of the material stored on Price’s computer, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the images, which included children as young as five or six up to mid-teens.
The defense, represented by Mark Connor, acknowledged the stigma attached to such charges and highlighted Price’s remorse and willingness to accept responsibility.
Connor argued that Price had shown courage in admitting his guilt and expressed hope for rehabilitation.
Judge Roger Dutton addressed Price directly, stating, “You had 1,515 illegal images of children, mostly girls, varying in age from five or six to mid-teens.
This is clearly so serious that a custodial sentence is appropriate.” As a result, Price was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on each of the charges, to be served concurrently, but suspended for two years.
During this period, he will be under supervision by the probation service and required to participate in a sex offenders treatment program.
Additionally, Price will be subject to strict conditions, including regular reporting to police for the next seven years and adherence to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years.
The order explicitly bans him from using the Internet to view illegal images, participating in online chatrooms, or social networking sites.
He is also prohibited from working with children in any capacity for the rest of his life, reflecting the court’s commitment to safeguarding minors and preventing further offenses.
