The alarm was raised about 32-year-old Jamie Alexander Wheeler when a colleague reported spotting inappropriate images on his laptop’s desktop.
Formerly from Riccall near Selby, but now residing in Kippax, Leeds, Wheeler was apprehended. The police seized a total of 33 electronic devices from him, which included laptops, mobile phones, and memory sticks. Upon forensic inspection of these devices, the authorities discovered over 26,000 obscene images of children. Among these, 4,721 were classified as category A pictures – the most severe type, displaying the worst form of abuse.
In addition to these, officers also found a ‘paedophile manual’ that elaborated on how to groom children for subsequent sexual exploitation.
Wheeler, a former teacher, admitted to possessing a paedophile manual, creating (through downloading) indecent images of children in three instances, sexually touching minors on six occasions, instigating a child to partake in sexual activity eight times, taking an indecent photograph of a child twice, and arranging to meet a child for a sexual act two times. He was sentenced to four years and ten months in prison at York Crown Court on Tuesday, May 16. He was also ordered to indefinitely register on the Sex Offenders Register and was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Detective Constable Claire Hudson from York and Selby CID, the investigating officer, stated: “The images retrieved from Wheeler’s devices displayed revolting and deeply disturbing instances of child abuse.
“Each image represents a terrified child who has endured the most extreme form of abuse. By downloading these images, Wheeler contributed to the abominable trade in child sexual abuse imagery, causing additional victimisation to each child featured in those photographs and videos.
“Although we didn’t find any evidence that he directly engaged in the most severe sexual offending, we did identify direct offences of sexual touching and other grooming activities to which he, fortunately, admitted guilt, thus sparing the victims the ordeal of testifying in court.
“Upon uncovering his offences, we collaborated with our partner organisations to put immediate protective measures in place, including suspending him from his job and imposing conditions to prohibit any contact with children.
“I hope that Wheeler utilises his incarceration period to seek the available help to prevent future re-offending.”
