Diocese of Manchester "Looking into Implications" of Vicar's Son's Indecent Images Conviction

By Jeremy Culley
Bolton News
July 24, 2015

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/13497270.Diocese_of_Manchester__looking_into_implications__of_vicar_s_son_s_indecent_images_conviction/?ref=rss

GUILTY: Paul Holt, son of Rev Wendy Oliver

THE Diocese of Manchester is looking into the implications of the conviction of a vicar's son's conviction for downloading thousands of indecent images of children.

Paul Holt was spared jail at Bolton Crown Court on Monday, after pleading guilty to 16 counts of possessing indecent images of children and distributing them, after 2,565 images were found on his computer.

Holt, the son of the Rev Wendy Oliver, from Christ Church, Harwood, confessed to an interest in “the feet of young children”.

The diocese has now released a statement in relation to concerns raised as a result of the case.

A spokesman said: "We are aware of this situation and treat safeguarding concerns as a top priority.

"Now that the criminal proceedings are concluded we are looking into the implications for the parish.

"We continue to urge anyone with substantive information on safeguarding issues to report them to the police or local authority, or to contact our diocesan safeguarding advisor."

Police stressed that following the case that there was no evidence Hold had ever committed any physical abuse, but said parents would be concerned for their "children's welfare".

Holt, aged 43, of Harwood Vicarage, Stich-mi-Lane, was trapped by an international investigation led by Canadian Police into an online retailer which was trading as a film distribution company.

Officers raided the vicarage at Christ Church Harwood on December 3, 2013, where Holt was found in an upstairs bedroom.

They seized a computer which was sent away for examination.

The court was told that Holt had been interested in feet since he was a young boy, but Judge Timothy Stead said it was clear his motivation was sexual.

Holt's marriage had broken down at the start of his offending and he had started to drink heavily.

Mrs Oliver had taken a "compassionate but firm" approach with him, the court was told.

Det Sgt Pete Astbury, from Phoenix Exit Bolton, said: "I know there will be parents who have children that have come into contact with Holt who will understandably be concerned for their children's welfare.

"I want to stress that we have no evidence to suggest that any physical abuse or contact offending has taken place. The images Holt downloaded were taken from the internet."

Holt was sentenced to an intensive community order, involving a three-year supervision and sex offender group work programme, and will have to sign the sex offenders register for five years.