WILLIAM STRONG FROM SOUTH HETTON JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN DURHAM

In a recent case heard at Durham Crown Court, William Strong, a 60-year-old resident of South Hetton, was sentenced to prison for possessing a significant collection of child pornography. The authorities uncovered that Strong had downloaded over 1,700 explicit images depicting children, a discovery that has shocked the local community and raised serious concerns about online safety and child protection.

According to court proceedings, Strong was actively involved in online communications with other individuals who shared similar disturbing interests. He used email and chatroom platforms to establish contact with known paedophiles, which further implicated him in a network of individuals engaged in the distribution and exchange of illegal material. The investigation was initiated after Durham Police received information linking Strong to these activities.

The breakthrough came when law enforcement officials identified email addresses associated with Strong’s computer system. These addresses were found to be connected to another individual across the country who had been arrested for comparable offences. This link prompted a detailed investigation into Strong’s online activities.

When questioned by police, Strong claimed ignorance regarding the presence of the illicit images on his device. He stated that he was unaware of why such images were stored on his computer and justified his actions by asserting that he generally avoided downloading pictures, citing concerns about viruses. Despite his explanations, the evidence against him was substantial.

Strong, who resides at Greencroft in South Hetton, pleaded guilty to 17 charges of possessing indecent photographs of children on February 8 of the previous year. The court was informed that among the images found on his computer, approximately a dozen were classified at the more severe levels four, three, and two, indicating a higher degree of explicitness. The remaining images were categorized at the lowest level, one, which still constitutes a serious offence.

During the hearing, defense lawyer Alex Burns highlighted that many of the images had never been opened or were immediately deleted by Strong, suggesting a degree of remorse or at least an attempt to conceal the material. Burns also emphasized the personal toll the case had taken on Strong, noting that his relationship with his girlfriend had been strained and that he was unable to see his grandchildren over the Christmas period. The lawyer expressed concern that Strong might have to relocate after serving his sentence.

In sentencing, Judge Chris Prince described Strong’s actions as deeply disturbing, stating, “You are clearly somebody who fantasizes about sexual contact with children. The images you had are repugnant and the chat you engaged in was explicit.” The judge sentenced Strong to four months in prison and imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for life, which prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with children or entering internet chatrooms. Additionally, Strong is required to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, underscoring the seriousness of his offences and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.