TIMOTHY PAPWORTH CAUGHT IN HEAVILY WITH CHILD SEX IMAGES DURING POLICE RAID IN HEAVILY

In a disturbing development, Timothy Papworth, aged 29, who resides in Heaviley, has admitted to viewing and possessing indecent images of children. The revelation came to light during a police operation that targeted his residence, which he shared with Rebecca Leighton, a former nurse at Stepping Hill hospital and a suspect in a high-profile poisoning case.

Police executed a dawn raid in July at the couple’s flat located above Papworth’s darts shop on Buxton Road in Heaviley. The raid was part of an ongoing investigation into Rebecca Leighton, who at the time was under suspicion for the murder of five patients at Stepping Hill hospital through the administration of saline solutions. Leighton’s case garnered significant media attention, and she was initially charged with criminal damage with intent to endanger life and reckless endangerment. However, these charges were dropped in September after she had spent six weeks in custody on remand. Subsequently, she was dismissed from her position at the hospital for stealing the drug tramadol.

During the police search, officers discovered computer equipment in the flat that contained highly disturbing material. The images, which were downloaded from a file-sharing website, depicted children in sexual situations and were found on the couple’s computer. The investigation revealed that Papworth had been searching the internet for such material over an eight-month period, indicating a pattern of interest and activity. The images were accessed multiple times, with Papworth admitting to viewing them at least three times before deleting the files.

At Manchester Crown Court, Papworth pleaded guilty to possessing indecent photographs of children. His guilty plea was entered on the day his trial was scheduled to commence, having previously denied any involvement. The court heard that he had searched for the images five times and viewed them on at least three occasions. As a result of his conviction, Papworth has been ordered to register as a sex offender, a standard requirement for such offenses. Judge Roger Thomas QC presided over the case and allowed Papworth to remain on unconditional bail until sentencing, which is scheduled for later this year.

The judge commented on the case, stating, “This is very much a case that brings about the very real possibility of community sentencing and some positive therapeutic type sentence,” indicating that the court may consider rehabilitative measures alongside or instead of custodial punishment, depending on further assessments and sentencing considerations.