A CHESHIRE Police officer described sick material found on a defendant’s phone, some of the worst and most disturbing she had seen in her eight years of service.
After a search warrant was issued to his family home in Widnes, Luke Beddow’s device revealed a horrifying collection of images and videos, some showing the murder and mutilation of people as well as others depicting beastiality and the killing of animals.
The 23-year-old of Finsbury Park, Widnes, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Friday for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to one count of possession of an indecent image of a child and another of possession of extreme pornographic material.
Prosecuting, Stephen Ball told the court how officers attended Beddow’s family home on February 24, 2023, following intelligence which linked to devices at his address.
A number of devices were seized and take for further examination.
Mr Ball disclosed how the defendant sent a text to his dad minutes after his arrest, stating ‘Dad I am sorry, it’s these stupid WhatsApp groups’.
“When interviewed, he said he was involved in WhatsApp groups, he said he thought it was a bit of a joke,” the prosecutor explained.
“At that stage he said he was not aware that there were images involving children. He was not aware that they had been found on that device.”
The items found on the device were sent by the police for digital download.
It was then that the contents of the material were revealed, and this included an indecent image of a child aged between three and five – it was a moving image and was graded a category B image, the second most severe category.
“There are 44 images in total of extreme pornographic material, 22 images and 22 videos,” Mr Ball stated.
“A Cheshire Police officer said in her eight years of service at Cheshire Constabulary, she had seen some of the most extreme and disturbing images on the defendant’s device.”
These images involved the murder and mutilation of humans as well as sexual acts being performed on animals and the murder of animals, among other things.
Some of the multiple WhatsApp chat groups that Beddows had joined where these images were being shared, included titles such as ‘Sick in the head’ and ‘leaks’.
And cookies were found on the defendant’s device which were from a website known to post indecent videos.
Beddows has no previous convictions.
Defending, Kitty Colley said: “This is a young man who has fallen from a very high position in the community and from himself and the person he usually is.
“He is in full time employment; he worked hard at school.”
Concluding, honour judge Driver KC first made comment before sentencing.
He said: “The material found on your devices was described by a police officer as the worst they have ever seen.
“Since you were convicted, you have done what you can to improve yourself.”
Judge Driver handed Beddows a 12-month community order consisting of 20 rehabilitation requirement days.
He also issued a sexual harm prevention order for the length of five years.
He addressed the defendant after sentencing, adding: “If you fail, you will be sent back to this court. If you breach this order, I have the power to sentence you and I won’t hesitate to do so.”
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