A 62-year-old from Wigan borough who belatedly admitted to child sexual offences avoids immediate jail time
Sentencing has taken place of a Wigan borough 62-year-old who initially denied making child sexual abuse films but later confessed
A Wigan borough man who denied making images of child abuse but then changed his pleas has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Phil Thompson, 62, of Higher Green Lane, Astley, initially pleaded not guilty to creating indecent images of children – 12 of which are alleged to fall into the most serious category A – during a hearing at Bolton Crown Court in September.
He also denied making 12 category B images and 44 category C images, possessing a banned image of child abuse and possessing five extreme pornographic films involving animals.
A trial was scheduled to be held next year, but then Thompson changed his pleas to guilty on all five counts.
Reappearing at Bolton Crown Court for sentencing, he was given a custodial term totalling nine months but it was suspended for 18 months.
Thompson was also ordered to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities and 80 hours of unpaid work and he was made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order while signing on the sex offenders' register for the same period of time.