A 70-year-old man from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for amassing one of the largest collections of indecent images of children ever discovered in England and Wales, alongside the possession of illegal weapons hidden in a secret bunker.
Geoffrey Crossland appeared at York Crown Court, where prosecutors revealed he had collected more than 2.2 million indecent images, with 6,946 classified in Category A, the most severe level depicting extreme abuse. The images dated back to 1998, indicating a long-standing interest in child sexual abuse material. Crossland had meticulously categorised the files and compiled lists of websites for accessing such content, demonstrating a deliberate and organised approach to his criminal activity.
The case came to light on 18 October 2018, when North Yorkshire Police searched Crossland's home following intelligence about child abuse images. Officers not only uncovered the vast digital hoard but also discovered a concealed underground bunker constructed from shipping containers beneath the property. Inside, they found prohibited firearms, 24,000 rounds of ammunition, a shooting range, and facilities for manufacturing ammunition. Crossland had earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs and, on the day of sentencing, admitted to 11 counts related to firearms and ammunition possession.
Judge Andrew Stubbs QC, sentencing Crossland to 12 years and eight months' imprisonment, highlighted the profound depravity captured in the images. 'Your criminality was unearthed, almost literally, on October 18 last year, when officers searched your house for images of children,' the judge stated. He emphasised the real-world harm, noting: 'One issue which is not forgotten is that these images capture real life people, and at the same time real life sexual abuse being carried out on them.' The judge described the scale as difficult for the public to comprehend.
Julian Briggs from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) described the case as extraordinary, stating: 'The sheer quantity and nature of the images discovered is deeply shocking, and without parallel in North Yorkshire. It is one of the largest hoards of such material ever discovered in England and Wales.' He added that the weapons discovery underscored Crossland's dangerous nature. Susannah Proctor, defending, argued there was no evidence of intent to harm with the weapons, but this did not mitigate the overall severity.
North Yorkshire Police led the investigation, working closely with the CPS in this complex operation. The sentencing reflects the gravity of both the sexual offences and the firearms violations, ensuring Crossland's removal from society to protect the public.