David Elwick

David Elwick, a 40-year-old man from St Ives in Cornwall, was sentenced at Truro Crown Court on 27 March 2026 for downloading indecent images of children. The court heard that Elwick, previously of good character, began engaging in this illegal activity four years prior due to personal issues and increased alcohol consumption.

Between 1 January and 30 April 2022, at an address in Perranporth, Elwick downloaded a total of 47 indecent images categorised by severity: 22 category C, 14 category B, and 11 category A images, the latter depicting the most severe abuse, including children as young as four being raped. His online activity was detected by Devon and Cornwall Police, leading to his arrest and the seizure of his computer.

Elwick pleaded guilty to three counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child. During the sentencing hearing, His Honour Judge Simon Carr described the case as a 'depressingly familiar' story of an individual with a normal life being drawn into the dark world of child pornography. Addressing Elwick directly, Judge Carr stated: 'The children were being raped and abused for your entertainment. When children as young as four or six are raped, people like you are partly responsible for it by funding the business that allows it to happen.'

The judge noted Elwick's remorse, his immediate admission of guilt, and the absence of reoffending in the four years since the downloads. He also considered Elwick's previous good character and alcohol problems. Consequently, Elwick received an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years, a six-month alcohol treatment requirement, and 10 days of rehabilitation activity. Additionally, he was required to register as a sex offender for five years and was subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order restricting his internet access.

The case was reported by Cornwall Live, with coverage by senior reporter Olivier Vergnault, highlighting the role of Devon and Cornwall Police in investigating such offences in the region.