TIMOTHY LEECH FROM WOODVILLE CAUGHT WITH ILLEGAL IMAGES OF UNDERAGE BOYS IN DERBYSHIRE

In December 2014, a serious case involving Timothy Leech, a 40-year-old resident of Woodville in Derbyshire, came to light when authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images involving underage boys. Leech was found in possession of a total of 88 images or videos depicting boys aged between 13 and 17, along with two highly explicit images involving animals, which are classified as extreme pornography.

The police investigation was initiated after intelligence suggested that Leech was actively viewing and downloading illegal content through an online platform called Gigatribe. Law enforcement officials from Derbyshire responded to his residence in Woodville, where they gained access and conducted a thorough search of his premises. During questioning, Leech admitted to the police that he had downloaded some images from a website but claimed that he had inadvertently acquired additional images he did not intend to possess.

Authorities seized Leech’s Packard Bell desktop computer, which was found to contain the illicit material. The police’s high-tech crime unit analyzed the hard drive and discovered that the indecent images and videos were stored in four main areas of the device. The content included 42 images or films classified as Category A, which is considered the most serious, 34 as Category B, and 12 as Category C. The investigation revealed that all these files had been downloaded over a period stretching from January 2012 to January 2014.

During his arrest and subsequent interview, Leech, of Capstan Close in Woodville, admitted to using the Gigatribe platform. He explained that his motivation was driven by loneliness, asserting that he was “lonely sat at his computer” and insisted that he was “not sexually attracted to children.” Despite his claims, Leech pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornographic material. It was noted that he was of previously good character, which was taken into account during sentencing.

In a hearing at Derby Crown Court, Judge John Waitt sentenced Leech to a three-year community order. As part of this order, Leech is required to undergo supervision with the probation service. Additionally, he was issued an indefinite sex offenders’ protection order, which includes a prohibition on deleting browsing history or any related data on any computer he uses, to prevent further concealment of illegal activity.

Judge Waitt addressed Leech directly, emphasizing the broader implications of possessing and downloading such images. He stated, “Every time an indecent image of a child is downloaded, it encourages those who abuse and torture children to get these images as they feel there is a market and profit in it. Downloading indecent images is therefore encouraging children to be tortured.”

Despite the severity of the charges, the judge acknowledged Leech’s positive reputation among his employer and friends, suggesting that he appeared to have come to terms with his actions and was willing to address his behavior. The judge expressed confidence that community supervision would reduce the risk of recurrence compared to a custodial sentence. Leech was also ordered to pay £235 in prosecution costs. His defense solicitor, Steven Gosnall, stated that Leech accepts responsibility and is actively working to address his conduct.