Ex-firefighter possessed over a million indecent images of children.

Ex-Firefighter Avoids Jail for Downloading Over a Million Indecent Images of Children

A former firefighter has avoided jail after downloading over a million indecent images of children, even admitting to police he had been doing so since 1998.

Bill Platt, 59, was found to be in possession of an enormous amount of vile pictures and videos of children, aged from babies up to 16 years old.

Police, having received information that Platt, of Worsley, was downloading indecent images of children, conducted a search at his house on June 24, 2019. He was arrested and handed over the PIN codes to his various devices, Manchester Crown Court heard.

He was asked about his computer and he said, "I'm downloading indecent images of children," and said it had been going on since 1998, and said he was relieved, prosecutor Roger Brown said. They confiscated 24 devices. There are so many images it's been impossible to say which ones have images on.

Examinations of the devices revealed a staggering number of indecent images: 15,690 Category A images (the worst type), 15,753 Category B images, and 837,729 Category C images. Among the Category A images were 1,024 videos. Police reviewed over 25 million images from the devices, identifying 11 million and leaving another million unchecked. In total, there were 12 million images, the largest number Mr. Brown said he had ever encountered.

In his police interview, Platt described the ages of the children depicted in the images as ranging from babies to 16-year-olds. One video was 21 minutes long. He had also taken some non-sexual images of children getting onto a bus, which the prosecutor said was a worrying change of tactic.

Officers also found 976 .22 bullets in a box at Platt's house. He had previously held a gun license, but gave it up and had left the ammunition in the house.

Platt was described as a man of previous good character. Mitigating, Nicholas Hammond said that his client had retired as a firefighter before setting up a business as a photographer. The defendant had the good sense to plead guilty at the first opportunity before the lower court, he said.

The majority of his working life he had contributed well to society. He worked to the benefit of the public and had an exemplary record. He contributed well and assisted the public, often putting his own life in jeopardy. Since his arrest he has addressed his behaviour to some extent by availing himself of Safer Lives. He has gone to seek help to address his behaviour. This has been hanging over him for a three year period.

He added that Platt previously held a gun license, but didn't renew it and the ammunition was left in his house.

Sentencing, Recorder Alex Leach QC said, "There was an enormous number of images that were found. This was a substantial collection of sickening images depicting the rape and sexual abuse of children. I am told you have been tackling the root of your offending, that your partner stands by you and the probation service feel they can assist you and that you are a good candidate for rehabilitation. I have received a letter from Safer Lives and the probation service who say you do pose a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. A short custodial sentence would not accomplish these aims."

Platt, of Gambleside Close, was handed 20 months imprisonment which was suspended for two years, 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 200 hours of unpaid work. He earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years which includes terms that will ban him from using the internet without informing the police and ban him from downloading any software which hides his internet history. He must also sign the notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.