A Southampton Paedophile, William McDowall, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for possessing over 47,000 indecent photos of minors.
William McDowall, 57, of Shirley Road, had previously admitted guilt to three charges of producing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, possessing a forbidden image of a child, and possessing severe pornographic images depicting sexual actions with an animal.
In addition to incarceration, he was mandated to register as a sex offender for a decade and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same duration.
On July 30, 2021, law enforcement apprehended William McDowall at his residence and confiscated multiple items, including two laptops and a hard drive.
Forensic analyses indicated that he possessed 47,517 indecent photographs distributed over three devices from March 2012 to July 2021.
Over 9,294 cases were classified as Category A, the most severe, illustrating the abuse of infants, toddlers, and adolescents. A few illustrations also illustrated acts of bestiality.
During his police interrogation, William McDowall confessed to having viewed indecent photos online for 20 years and characterised himself as a lurker.
Personal Computer Sarah Tickner, representing the Internet Child Abuse Team, spearheaded the investigation.
Following William McDowall’s sentencing at Southampton Crown Court, she stated that William McDowall possessed an extensive collection of obscene photos, with some children depicted as young as 12 months old.
Although he expressed contrition for his acts, he evidently presents a danger to children, and I am pleased to note that he is incarcerated. He will be subject to stringent terms upon his release from prison.
This inquiry aims to demonstrate our dedication to safeguarding children in our society and our will to ensure that criminals are prosecuted.
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