By Lynda Roughley
Wirral Globe
February 16, 2010
http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/5010179.Former_senior_Wirral_vicar_jailed_for_downloading_child_porn/
UNITED KINGDOM -- A FORMER senior vicar from Wirral has been jailed for 12 months for downloading obscene child porn images.
Ex-Church of England Rev Paul Battersby was already subjected to a suspended prison sentence imposed two years ago after he was caught with indecent images while working as a priest in Lancashire.
But Battersby, who was in the ministry for 31 years, was locked up after being caught for a second time when he broke the rules of his previous court order by using a nickname on the internet to organise a missionary conference.
When officers seized this laptop they discovered nearly 160 sickening photographs of children being abused.
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| Liverpool Crown Court |
Judge David Aubrey QC jailed 60-year-old Battersby for eight months for the new offences and activated four months of his previous sentence to run consecutively.
Ordering him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years, the judge said: "Being a highly intelligent and highly articulate man you should well recognise that each image that you have observed for your own sexual gratification represents the abuse of a child.
"By doing that which you did you have perpetuated such abuse of such ayoung child."
Bearded Battersby closed his eyes and sighed as he was sentenced.
In April 2007, the former Church of England National Youth Officer was turned in by his wife after his 17-year-old stepson spotted pornographic images on his computer.
Battersby, who was then vicar of St Ambrose church in Leyland, received 34 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and attend a sex offenders' programme.
Following his conviction, Battersby, who taught chemistry in Liverpool before training for the Church in 1971, moved to College Drive, Bebington.
But in April, Battersby bought a laptop and within months was using it to again access obscene images of youngsters.
Imposing a seven-year Sexual Offenders Prevention Order Judge Aubrey said temptation had proved too great for Battersby.
"You have given your life to God and for 31 years of your life you have been in the ministry and seeking to assist those in need.
"Of course I give due weight to all those facts, and those concerning your background and character.
"But I regret to say that there is another side to you, one which you know, and that side is an unhealthy interest in post-pubescent children."
David Evans, prosecuting, told how Battersby was caught after police became suspicious when they discovered he was using the name "Tanker" to carry out work on the internet - breaching the terms of the Sex Offenders' Register.
They raided his home on February 5, last year, seized the machine and discovered the photographs.
Batterby pleaded guilty to nine offences of making indecent images.
Peter Turner, defending, told how Battersby had only acquired the laptop after being commissioned by a member of the clergy to organise and manage a conference in relation to missionary work.
He said Battersby accepted having a "significant lapse" in June 2008, but said he had since made progress through the sex offenders programme.
"He is a man who prior to 2007 had led what appeared to be a generally blameless and very useful life as a pastor and a teacher.
"But it is certainly right to say he has had this interest for about five years maximum."
He said that Battersby, who has health problems, had previously worked as a youth officer in the Lakes, a school chaplain in Argentina and was the National Youth Officer for seven years.
Before starting work in Lelyand in 2003, Battersby was in charge of the church's community projects in Lancashire as principal officer in the Blackburn Diocese Board of Social Responsibility, from 1994 to 1999.
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