August 2022

Former military man avoids jail after downloading sick child abuse pictures at Lichfield home

A former member of the armed forces who was caught with a hoard of sick child abuse pictures and videos has walked free from court. 

Alex Williams – who has experience of hand-to-hand combat and landmines – confessed he downloaded more than 300 indecent images of children, as well as more than 270 videos.

The 42-year-old was caught by police after officers suspected one of the vile pictures had been uploaded to his computer at his Lichfield home.

The collection included children as young as two being abused by predators.

There was also extreme pornographic images involving a horse and a dog. Stafford Crown Court heard how Williams was off work with stress at the time of his offendings.

The convict was handed an an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, when he appeared at the court on August 10.

Prosecutor Alexa Carrier said: “On March 17, 2021 officers attend his home after intelligence recorded an indecent image of a child had been uploaded to his IP address.

There were also videos of children as young as two being raped, and evidence of searches for images. When he was arrested he gave no comment during his interview.

“During his second he had made a prepared statement. He said he was not interested in the more explicit images.” He admitted downloading 137 indecent photographs and 220 videos of children at category A – known as the worst photos.

He also admitted downloading 95 photographs and 36 videos of children at category B; and 86 photographs and 23 videos of category C.

Williams, now of Hurst Avenue, Sale, Cheshire, also admitted possession of 25 prohibited images of children and possession of 20 extreme pornographic images involving a horse and a dog.

“Nothing I have read provides an excuse for your offending.” The judge decided against jailing Williams, saying: “You have more to gain via rehab, and jail would affect your family far more than you.

He made Williams the subject of an eight-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and 120 hours unpaid work. He will also be the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.