Parents Outraged at Lenient Sentence for Teenager Who Possessed Child Abuse Images

Parents living near the home of Dillan Waters, an 18-year-old who admitted to possessing and distributing indecent images of children, have expressed their outrage at the lenient sentence he received.

Waters, who lives just 100 meters from a nursery in Horbury, Wakefield, pleaded guilty to six counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of distributing them. Despite the severity of the images, which included Category A material depicting the rape and torture of young children, he was handed a community order of 150 hours of unpaid work.

In addition to the community order, Waters was also subjected to a five-year sexual harm prevention order limiting his internet activity and ordered to register as a sex offender for five years.

Local resident Jodie Heaton expressed her deep concern about Waters' continued presence in the neighborhood, stating, "We don't want him living here and he shouldn't be living here. Everyone on this cul-de-sac has small children. I have five aged 13, 10, nine, seven, and 10 months, and my neighbours have kids younger than 10. There are at least 15 kids just on this street, not to mention the kids at the nursery."

Heaton further described the fear and anxiety that has gripped the community since Waters' conviction, "I've only just started letting my children play on the front on their bikes if I'm out doing the garden, but I won't even let them do that now. The street is usually full of kids playing, but since this has come out, it's been deathly silent, no kids have been out playing."

Jade Leather, who lives opposite Waters, echoed Heaton's sentiments, stating, "As a parent of two young children, (one is autistic and due to this - doesn't like being clothed and is often spotted naked around the house) this absolutely terrifies me. The fear of not knowing if someone who lives on the same street, opposite your house is spying on your children is horrific."

"This offender has been found guilty of possessing and distributing horrific things in relation to young children. I don't understand how any legal body can find community service and a measly fine a fit punishment for that?" Leather continued, expressing her bewilderment at the lenient sentence.

Both Heaton and Leather voiced their frustration at the lack of protection afforded to children in their community, emphasizing the potential risk posed by Waters' continued presence. They questioned why he was allowed to return home to a street full of children, with a nursery just a short distance from his doorstep.

"Every child has the right to play safely on their street or in their own garden and home. This street is in uproar over it. No kids are out playing. Parents are hurrying their children inside when bringing them home. It's not normal. All while he gets to parade around, living life as normal. It's not right and something needs to be done about it. However, if we try to do something and force him out, we will be the ones that end up in trouble with the authorities. It's so backwards - it needs to change!" Leather concluded.