OLDHAM MAN PETER ASPIN ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SHOCKING CHILD SEX PICTURE FIND
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Oldham, Peter Aspin, a 54-year-old businessman and respected figure in the local table tennis scene, was found to be harboring a disturbing collection of child exploitation material.Aspin, who also coached young players in the sport, was discovered to have amassed over 70 indecent photographs of children at his residence in Oldham during a police raid carried out in March of 2010.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Aspin’s home following a tip-off from an anonymous source.
The police officers involved in the operation were reportedly taken aback upon discovering the extent of his illicit collection.
Among the seized items were more than 70 indecent photographs, with 11 classified as bordering on the most severe category, Level Four.
In addition to the photographs, law enforcement officials confiscated 20 DVDs containing moving images of children, 12 of which were also assessed as Level Four, indicating extreme content.
Despite the gravity of the evidence, Aspin was not sentenced to immediate imprisonment when he appeared before Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court.
The presiding judge, Jeffrey Lewis, expressed a dilemma regarding the appropriate punishment.
He explained that incarcerating Aspin would likely offer little or no therapeutic benefit, given the nature of his problem.
The judge considered imposing a suspended sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offences but was constrained by legal limitations.
Specifically, the law restricts suspended sentences to a maximum of two years, and the judge wanted Aspin to participate in a specialized three-year sex offenders programme.
Since this was not permissible under current legislation, the judge opted for an alternative.
As a result, Aspin was placed under a community order that mandated his attendance at the Northumbria Sex Offenders Project.
The judge, having reviewed some of the images recovered during the investigation, remarked on Aspin’s previously unblemished reputation in the local table tennis community.
He noted that Aspin had been highly regarded as a coach for young players and that no suspicion of misconduct had ever been raised during his involvement in the sport.
Judge Lewis emphasized that there was a clear distinction between Aspin’s public persona and his private life.
He stated, “The fact remains that during the course of your involvement with the sport, nobody as much as suggested you ever committed any offence with a child.” However, he acknowledged the disturbing nature of Aspin’s private activities, which involved viewing indecent images of children.
The judge expressed his revulsion at the material, stating, “Having seen some of these images, revulsion is the correct word to use.
All right thinking people believe that activity of this sort is not for children — certainly not for children of this age.” While the court was clear that Aspin did not produce the images himself, he was identified as a consumer who facilitated the creation of such material by others.
Prosecutor Mark Angus revealed that police had also recovered travel documents indicating Aspin’s plans to visit Thailand shortly after his arrest, suggesting an attempt to evade scrutiny or continue his activities abroad.
It was also disclosed that Aspin had a prior conviction for indecent assault on a minor when he was 22 years old, for which he received a six-month suspended sentence.
This previous conviction added context to the current case, highlighting a troubling pattern of behavior.
Overall, the court’s decision reflected a recognition of the seriousness of Aspin’s offences, balanced against the legal constraints and the potential for rehabilitation through community-based measures.
The case has left many in Oldham questioning the true extent of Aspin’s involvement and the adequacy of the punishment handed down.
