Jail for Burnley man with ‘twisted sexual interest in young children’

Christopher Gallagher (61), of Florence Street, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of having indecent photographs of children when he appeared at Burnley Crown Court. About half the images were of children under 13, and some were infants. He also admitted possessing 172 images of extreme pornography.

Gallagher was given 18 months for the child porn with two months concurrent for the further offence.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Altham said it was necessary to protect the public from Gallagher and made a public order for 10 years. He is disqualified from working with children, will be on the child protection register and his computer and laptop was confiscated.

The court was told Gallagher has served a previous jail sentence for possessing indecent images of children.

He came to the attention of local police following an investigation in Gloucester and initially denied having downloaded or keeping any images.

Judge Altham told him: “You are extremely incorrigible and have a twisted sexual interest in young children.”