Charles Ratcliffe

A Shropshire man, Charles Ratcliffe, aged 59 from Knockin Heath near Oswestry, has been sentenced for possessing a vast collection of indecent images of children. The case came to light following a police search of his home on 21 June 2022, where officers discovered multiple digital devices containing 26,453 category C indecent images of children, along with a printed image of a child's genitals.

Ratcliffe appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of an indecent image of a child and one count of making category C indecent images of children. Category C represents the least severe classification among the three categories (A, B, and C) of such material, with category A being the most serious. The images on his devices had been downloaded over a nine-year period, from 2011 to 2020, and depicted a large number of different child victims.

Prosecutor Alexa Carrier outlined the details during the hearing, explaining that the search was conducted by West Mercia Police at Ratcliffe's property. The court was told that the sheer volume of images indicated a sustained pattern of behaviour. The judge remarked to Ratcliffe, 'You have brought shame on your family', highlighting the personal and societal impact of his actions.

This sentencing underscores ongoing efforts by authorities to combat the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material in the UK. Ratcliffe's case serves as a reminder of the severe legal consequences for such offences, with the court imposing a custodial sentence to reflect the gravity of the crimes committed against vulnerable children.