Locations
Grappenhall, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4
Description
A paedophile has been jailed again after being caught possessing indecent images of children.
Sam Whitacre, 37, formerly known as Sam Lewis from Grappenhall, was imprisoned in 2021 for two years after possessing nearly 25,000 child abuse images. He faced charges of distributing, three counts of making, and two counts of possessing indecent images, leading to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and notification requirements.
Now living on Mersey Road, Widnes, Whitacre appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, pleading guilty to possessing 1,093 indecent images of children as young as six, three counts of making indecent images, breaching his SHPO, and failing to comply with sex offender register rules.
In May 2024, a sex offender manager visited Whitacre, who has a child, and searched his Samsung phone due to concerns about child abuse material. Authorities found 1,093 deleted indecent images, an undeclared cloud storage app (prohibited by his SHPO), and an undeclared bank card (breaching notification requirements).
The court noted Whitacre's one prior conviction for six offences, all related to indecent or prohibited child images.
Defence lawyer Jim Smith argued that Whitacre's prior custody prevented a rehabilitative order. He highlighted Whitacre's warehouse job, aware new partner, and past anxiety and depression, saying:
“I ask your honour to allow this defendant one last opportunity to get the necessary help he needs to become a coactive and cooperative useful member of society."
Recorder Alex Leach ruled:
“These offences are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified. You do not yet form a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and I am obliged to take into account your history of offending.”
Whitacre received a 12-month prison sentence, plus a new 10-year SHPO and notification requirements.