PETER SANDERS FROM DROITWICH SPA AND WORCESTER FACES SERIOUS CHARGES OVER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local communities of Droitwich Spa and Worcester, Peter Sanders, a 51-year-old man, has been brought back into the spotlight for serious allegations related to child sexual abuse images. The proceedings took place at Worcester Crown Court, where Sanders appeared via a prison video link to face multiple charges concerning his illegal activities spanning over a decade.

Sanders was charged with six counts of downloading a total of 187 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. These illegal downloads occurred over a period from July 9, 2007, to January 18 of this year. The court was informed that Sanders had previously been subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which he is now accused of breaching by engaging in these illegal downloads. The order was originally issued on July 9, 2007, as part of his earlier sentencing.

Prosecutor Anton Muller requested an adjournment of the case, citing ongoing investigations. He explained that police had seized multiple internet-enabled devices during a search warrant executed at Sanders' former residence in Elkstone Close, Worcester, earlier this year. Although Sanders no longer resides at that address, the police are still analyzing the devices, which are believed to contain further illicit material. Muller emphasized that the high-tech unit handling the investigation has already identified additional images, and further charges are anticipated as the investigation continues. The case was adjourned until April 29, with Sanders remaining in custody. Judge Robert Juckes, QC, warned Sanders that he faces the possibility of a custodial sentence once the investigation concludes.

Earlier, in July 2007, Sanders, then of Pelham Road, Droitwich Spa, was convicted of similar offences. He had taken an indecent photograph of a child and downloaded child abuse images from the internet. For these offences, he received a 12-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years, after serving 150 days in custody. His legal counsel, Charles Hamer, requested assistance from the probation service to find suitable accommodation for Sanders, citing the need for professional intervention to address his sexual preferences. However, due to reduced government funding, no such placement was available, which led to the court's frustration and regret over the situation.

Judge Alistair McCreath expressed his disapproval of the circumstances, noting the 'scandalous' lack of support for offenders like Sanders. He emphasized the importance of strict sentencing, warning Sanders that any future illegal activity involving child abuse images would result in a lengthy prison term. At that time, Sanders was remanded in custody because he lacked a fixed address, and there were concerns about potential reoffending and his recent suicide attempt. Sanders pleaded guilty to making an indecent photograph of a child and possessing indecent images via the internet. The court ordered him to sign the sex offenders' register for ten years and prohibited him from working with or having unsupervised contact with children under 16. His mental health was reported to have improved, and he did not require psychiatric assessment at that time.