A Bloxham Paedophile, Liam Wishart, 35, informed the arresting authorities following a raid on the Bloxham residence he shared with his mother that he possessed no obscene photos of minors and that his sexual attraction was directed towards individuals of his own age group.
However, Liam Wishart’s deceit was revealed when forensic professionals examined his digital devices, discovering 266 photographs in the most severe category – A – 115 in category B, and 127 in category C.
Evidence presented at Oxford Crown Court included photos depicting the sexual abuse of very young females.
Evidence indicated that Liam Wishart had conducted internet searches for obscene photographs of children and engaged in conversations with individuals sharing similar interests between 2016 and 2021.
Police officers raided the property in June 2021, after receiving a tip-off that Liam Wishart had been downloading the vile child sex abuse material.
His bedroom – the door to which was hidden behind a bookcase – was searched and his digital devices seized.
The officers also found a can of pepper spray. The spray is classed as a prohibited weapon under firearm laws.
A cache of £28 notes was found and he was initially charged with possession of counterfeit money.
However, the charge was eventually dropped. On Friday (March 31) judge Recorder Paul Reid told prosecutor Robert Lindsey that he was ‘puzzled’ as to why the charges were brought in the first place, characterising the fake notes as ‘Monopoly money’.
When the police interviewed him, Liam Wishart submitted a prepared statement denying that he was in possession of indecent images of children or that he had used ‘peer to peer’ websites to obtain them.
Liam Wishart claimed that friends would use his laptop and that the WiFi at his house was not password-protected.
Liam Wishart, of Courtington Lane, Bloxham, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to possession of indecent images of children and possession of the prohibited weapon. He had no previous convictions.
Gordana Austin, mitigating, said the Bloxham man was his mother’s carer and worked from home as a graphic designer. He had spent six weeks in prison on remand.
Imposing nine months imprisonment suspended for a year-and-a-half, Recorder Reid told Wishart: “The pre-sentence report reveals that you have an understanding now of the particularly vile nature of this practice, because, as I have said it is not just being in possession of these disgusting photographs
“They are not just disgusting photographs. They show the commission of disgusting offences against children.
“Each of these hundreds of photographs is a further abuse.”
Liam Wishart was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work, up to 60 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay £425 in costs.
Liam Wishart was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for 10 years.
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