PATCHWAY TEACHER PETER WILLOUGHBY JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN BRISTOL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Peter Willoughby, a teacher from Patchway, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after being found guilty of possessing and downloading a vast collection of indecent images depicting children. The images included some as young as 18 months old, highlighting the severity and depravity of his actions.

Willoughby, who was employed as a mathematics and IT instructor at Bristol Metropolitan College, was brought before Bristol Crown Court to face charges related to his online activities. It was revealed during the proceedings that he spent considerable time both before and after his teaching hours browsing the internet for illicit material. His collection was described as 'depraved' by prosecutors, containing thousands of images and videos that involved extreme acts of sexual abuse against minors.

The court heard that Willoughby, aged 59 and residing on Bourton Avenue in Patchway, pleaded guilty to 22 counts of making indecent images of children. As part of his sentencing, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years and was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order that prohibited him from using any computer to access pornography.

Prosecutor Richard Posner detailed the police investigation, which was initiated after authorities received information leading them to search Willoughby’s residence. During the search, law enforcement officials seized his computer equipment. It was uncovered that as early as 2007, Willoughby had visited websites containing indecent images of children. He not only accessed these images but also stored them, keeping a collection that spanned from June 12, 2006, until just 45 minutes before his arrest on February 18, 2009.

The police investigation revealed that Willoughby used a school-provided laptop, along with personal computers at his home, to download and view these illicit images. The material included some categorized at the highest levels of severity, specifically levels 4 and 5, which depicted sadistic acts and involved animals, further emphasizing the disturbing nature of his collection.

Willoughby’s employment history at Bristol Metropolitan College, formerly known as Whitefield Fishponds School and later Bristol Metropolitan Academy, spanned five years. During this period, he was trusted to teach students but secretly engaged in illegal activities online. When questioned by police, he admitted to downloading the images and film clips but claimed he was a confused individual suffering from depression. He denied deriving any sexual gratification from his actions and expressed remorse and shame for his conduct.

His defense lawyer, Matthew Comer, emphasized the impact of the case on Willoughby and his family, stating that he had been open with his wife and two children about the proceedings. Despite his remorse, the court made it clear that the nature of the images he accessed was extremely serious. Judge Neil Ford QC, the Recorder of Bristol, sentenced Willoughby and highlighted the depraved content involved, which included bondage, penetration, and bestiality, with victims ranging from 18 months to 10 years old.

Following the sentencing, Bristol Metropolitan Academy’s principal, Steve Taylor, issued a statement acknowledging the case. He confirmed that Willoughby had not been employed at the school since April 2009 and clarified that the charges did not involve any misconduct or abuse of pupils during his tenure. The school also stated that it had cooperated fully with police investigations and had followed proper procedures upon learning of the allegations, emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding and integrity.