WILLIAM PEARSON FROM NORTON INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL POLICE INVESTIGATION JAILED IN YORK

In April 2018, William Pearson, a resident of Norton, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of secretly browsing the internet for illicit content, despite being under court restrictions. The case was linked to an international police investigation into online sexual offenses involving minors.

William Alexander Pearson, aged 22 at the time, had previously been given a second chance in November 2016 when he received a suspended prison sentence for downloading a video depicting a child suffering severe sexual abuse, a crime classified as the most serious category of child exploitation material. This leniency was granted by York Crown Court, which recognized the gravity of his actions but opted for a suspended sentence, likely considering his claims of being a 'paedophile hunter.'

However, the situation took a troubling turn in December 2017. During a routine police supervision visit, officers discovered that Pearson had been violating the court’s strict orders. Evidence showed that he had been secretly viewing disturbing images online, including those depicting mutilation, death, violence, and pornography. The police found that Pearson had been using his personal device, an iPad, to access these illicit materials in a manner designed to conceal his activities, specifically through the use of Safari’s private browsing mode.

William Pearson, of East Road, Norton, pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that had been imposed on him. The order, which remains in effect for the rest of his life, was meant to restrict his internet usage and prevent access to harmful content. His breach occurred between August 31, 2017, and December 23, 2017, during which he was found to have been viewing images that included violence, mutilation, and sexual abuse of children.

Judge Paul Batty QC, the Honorary Recorder of York, addressed Pearson directly during sentencing. He described the November 2016 offense as an “extremely troubling case,” emphasizing that Pearson had claimed to be a 'paedophile hunter' at the time. The judge was unequivocal in his assessment, stating, “I am afraid you are not a paedophile hunter but arguably you are coming close to being a paedophile yourself. I cannot overlook the flagrant breach of this order.”

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie explained that Pearson was subject to the SHPO following his initial offense, which included a ban on using internet browsers that did not record the websites visited. Despite this, police investigations revealed that Pearson had been actively circumventing these restrictions. On December 20, 2017, a North Yorkshire Police public protection officer noticed that Pearson’s home contained an iPad with an open window on a website displaying images of death, mutilation, violence, and pornography. Further checks confirmed that Pearson had been using the Safari browser in a private mode to hide his online activities.

In a separate but related case from November 2016, Pearson, then 21, was arrested after police raided his Norton residence and seized his computer equipment. During questioning, Pearson claimed he was viewing child abuse images to expose and combat paedophiles. However, analysis of his computer revealed he had watched a six-minute video featuring a young girl, which he admitted to viewing twice for his own sexual gratification. This video was classified as Category A, the most severe level of child exploitation material.

Pearson pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent images of a child. Prosecutor Glen Parsons highlighted the depraved nature of the video and noted that Pearson had initially claimed to be an anti-paedophile campaigner. During his first police interview, he stated that he was trying to identify offenders and engage with them online, even suggesting he had acquired abusive material to share with others. However, there was no evidence to suggest he had distributed images to other paedophiles, although he did admit to using a drop-box system to store the illicit files.

Throughout the investigation, Pearson maintained that his actions were motivated by a desire to catch child abusers, but the evidence contradicted this narrative. His full admissions came only after his computer equipment was examined, revealing his true intentions and the extent of his illegal activities. Pearson, who had no prior convictions, was represented by solicitor advocate David Camidge, who acknowledged that his client had attempted to deceive police by claiming to be a 'paedophile hunter.' Camidge described Pearson as an isolated individual who had resigned from his job following his arrest and had put his life on hold during the court proceedings.

Ultimately, Pearson was sentenced in York Crown Court, with the judge condemning his actions and emphasizing the seriousness of his breaches of court orders and possession of child abuse material. His case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating online child exploitation and the importance of strict legal measures to prevent such offenders from reoffending.