Joanne Foster

Joanne Foster, a 44-year-old former NHS clerical worker and justice campaigner from Macclesfield, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court for a series of sexual offences. The case came to light following a police raid in April 2017 at the home she shared with her then-boyfriend, Gary Keenan. During the raid, authorities seized devices containing indecent images of children and evidence of public sexual acts.

Foster pleaded guilty to possessing 16 Category A, 18 Category B, and 69 Category C indecent images of children under 16, as well as one count of possessing indecent images and two counts of outraging public decency. Prosecutor Sarah Badrawy detailed how images recovered from Keenan's phone showed Foster engaging in sexual activity outdoors, including a specific set taken in Heaton Park, Manchester, where she was wearing a white dress and exposing herself. One particularly disturbing image had the words 'paedo s***' written on her bottom.

The court heard that Foster's involvement began after she entered a relationship with Keenan, a former soldier, who encouraged her to participate in high-risk and illegal sexual activities, referring to her as his 'product'. Foster claimed in police interviews that Keenan had downloaded the images onto her phone, while he blamed her, but both were held accountable. This behaviour contrasted sharply with Foster's past as a campaigner; in 2009, following the death of her long-term partner in a 'one punch' attack during a night out in Macclesfield, she lobbied for tougher sentences in manslaughter cases and raised awareness about drink-fuelled violence.

Judge Patrick Thompson sentenced Foster to 15 months in prison, highlighting the severity of the offences involving child exploitation material and public indecency. The case was investigated by Greater Manchester Police, underscoring the risks of such activities in public spaces like Heaton Park.