Pedophile with over a million CSA images walks free

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Former firefighter Bill Platt was handed a suspended sentence after admitting to police that he had been downloading child sexual abuse materials since 1998. More than 1 million CSA images and videos have been identified, including victims in infancy aged up to 16 years old.

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Bill Platt's ‘collection’ included videos of infant victims to children of 16. There were 12 million images, the ‘biggest number’ the prosecutor said he had ever come across. The judge said it would “not accomplish rehabilitation” to send Platt to prison.

lancs.liveEx-firefighter with over a million vile images of kids avoids jailBill Platt was handed a suspended sentence after admitting to police he had been downloading indecent images since 1998

The court heard that “a total of 11 million images were identified, and another million were not checked. In total there were 12 million images, which was the ‘biggest number’ Mr Brown said he had ever come across.”

Court reporter Amy Walker, writing for the Manchester Evening News:

“He was asked about his computer and he said: “I’m downloading indecent images of children”, and said it had been going on since 1998 and said he was ‘relieved’”, prosecutor Roger Brown said.

“They confiscated 24 devices. There are so many images it’s been impossible to say which ones have images on.

“There were examinations of the devices, the total number of category A images was 15,690, the total number of category B images was 15,753 and the total number of category C images was 837,729.”

Category A images are said to be the worst type of indecent images, of which there were 1,024 videos. It was said that the police reviewed over 25 million images from the devices.

Platt had also taken photos of children in public, which the prosecutor described as a “worrying change of tactic”. After retiring as a firefighter, Platt had begun establishing a business as a photographer.

Officers also found nearly a thousand bullets at Platt’s house.

Mitigating, Platt’s attorney Nicholas Hammond said, “The defendant had the good sense to plead guilty at the first opportunity before the lower court.”

“The majority of his working life he had contributed well to society,” Hammond continued. “He worked to the benefit of the public and had an exemplary record. He contributed well and assisted the public, often putting his own life in jeopardy.”

Sentencing, Recorder Alex Leach QC said there was an ‘enormous’ number of images that were found.

“This was a substantial collection of sickening images depicting the rape and sexual abuse of children,” he said.

“I am told you have been tackling the root of your offending, that your partner stands by you and the probation service feel they can assist you and that you are a good candidate for rehabilitation.”

Take Action

Ask for the lenient sentence to be reviewed by the Crown Court.

DEADLINE: April 12

Attorney General’s Office
Email: uls.referrals@attorneygeneral.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7271 2492
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Here is the information you need when requesting that the Crown Court review Platt’s sentence.

Name: Bill Platt

Date of sentence: March 15, 2022

Court where sentencing occurred: Manchester Crown Court

Crime: Downloading child sexual abuse images, victims aged from infancy to 16 years

Category A: 1,024 videos, 15,690 images

Category B: 15,753 images

Category C: 837,729 images

Case Number: S20220087

Sentence: 20 months imprisonment suspended for two years, 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Platt was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years which includes terms that will ban him from using the internet without informing the police. He must also sign notification requirements on the Sex Offender Registry for 10 years.