WILLIAM MOULTON'S SHOCKING CHILD PORN CASE IN TIVERTON: EXPOSED AT EXETER CROWN COURT

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Tiverton, William Moulton, a 67-year-old resident of Nomansland, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving child exploitation and online abuse. The proceedings took place at Exeter Crown Court, where Moulton faced multiple charges related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, as well as attempts to contact young girls under false pretenses.

The court heard that Moulton had pleaded guilty to 12 counts of making indecent photographs of children, with the images dating back to between 2005 and 2007. These images ranged from less severe categories to the most serious, with police discovering a total of 580 indecent images and 31 movies stored on his devices. The investigation was initiated after police executed a search warrant at Moulton’s residence on August 16, 2007. During the search, authorities uncovered the extensive collection of illicit material, which highlighted the severity of his offenses.

Further evidence revealed that Moulton had been actively using social networking sites on the internet, where he pretended to be a teenage boy. This deception was part of his attempt to establish contact with young girls, including a 14-year-old girl to whom he sent sexually explicit text messages. The girl was under the impression that she was communicating with someone her own age, which added a disturbing layer to the case.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Moulton was not prosecuted for the contact he made with the young girls, but the evidence of his possession of child pornography was overwhelming. The prosecution, led by Malcolm Galloway, presented the case that Moulton’s actions demonstrated a clear sexual interest in children. The police investigation also uncovered that Moulton had been using the internet to groom and exploit minors, which compounded the seriousness of his offenses.

During the court proceedings, Moulton’s defense lawyer, Rupert Taylor, acknowledged that his client now recognized he had a problem. However, the judge, Philip Wassall, decided that a custodial sentence was not the most appropriate punishment. Instead, he imposed a three-year community order, emphasizing that this approach would better serve the public interest by ensuring Moulton received long-term professional help for his sexual interests.

In addition to the community order, Moulton was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which will remain in effect until further notice. The court also mandated that Moulton register as a sex offender for a period of five years, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community of Tiverton and beyond.