WILLIAM CHADWICK SHOCKS PRESTON WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ADMISSION

In a startling development that has sent shockwaves through the community of Preston, Lancashire, William Chadwick, a former political figure and ex-leader of the Liberal Democrat group in Preston, has admitted to serious charges related to child pornography. The incident came to light during a court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court in March 2003, where Chadwick pleaded guilty to 18 counts of making indecent photographs of children.

Chadwick, aged 48 at the time, who had previously resigned from his position at Lancashire County Council, faced a trial but unexpectedly changed his plea to guilty at the last minute. The court proceedings revealed the disturbing details of his actions, which involved accessing and downloading illicit images from the internet. As a consequence of his guilty plea, he was fined £1,000 and mandated to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

During the sentencing, the presiding judge, Mr. Justice Mackay, expressed profound disappointment and sadness over Chadwick’s conduct. He remarked, "It is very sad to see you standing where you are." The judge acknowledged Chadwick’s prior contributions to public life but emphasized that his reputation and career had been irreparably damaged by his actions. "You are a man who has contributed much to public life and I suspect your life as a public man now lies in ruins as a result of what you have done," he stated.

The court heard that Chadwick had accessed the internet on 18 separate occasions to download images of young children, primarily, but not exclusively, young girls. These acts were carried out for his personal gratification, according to the court records. The judge classified Chadwick’s crimes as falling into the 'lowest level' of seriousness for such offenses, noting that his actions appeared to be a 'solo enterprise' without any complicity or organized involvement.

Prosecutor David Kerr detailed the police investigation, which began when authorities seized Chadwick’s computer from his Preston residence on August 9, 2002. The computer was shared with his partner at the time. Forensic analysis revealed that the hard drive had been used to access various pornographic internet sites, with 18 illicit images downloaded on three separate dates: May 12, June 9, and June 12.

Mr. Kerr explained that Chadwick likely used search terms such as 'underground illegal pornography' to find these sites. During police interviews, Chadwick claimed that he might have accessed the sites accidentally, a defense that the prosecution found unconvincing.

Chadwick’s defense attorney, John Jackson, highlighted his client’s past service to the community, attempting to mitigate the severity of the sentence. Despite this, the court’s decision reflected the gravity of the crimes committed and the breach of public trust involved in his actions.