In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Alan Crabtree, then 72, of Salford, Greater Manchester, avoided a custodial sentence after being found in possession of “sick” indecent images of children. On Monday, 1 July 2019, Crabtree appeared at Manchester Crown Court, where he was handed a 12-month community order. The court heard that the retired miner, who claimed he acted out of “curiosity,” had hoarded images of the most serious category.
The investigation established that between April 2015 and December 2017, Crabtree used social media to find and save 85 indecent images onto his mobile phones. Of these, 13 were classified as Category A, representing the most severe level of sexual abuse. The National Crime Agency (NCA) provided intelligence to Greater Manchester Police, leading to a warrant being executed at his home on 8 December 2017. Officers seized two laptops and two mobile phones that contained disturbing material.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Crabtree described his actions as a “compulsion” that had developed from an initial interest. Manchester Crown Court heard that his family, who viewed him as a “loving and supportive father,” was entirely unaware of his activity until the police raid. Recorder Geoffrey Lowe noted that it was “astonishing” to see a man of Crabtree’s hitherto impeccable character in such a position, but emphasised that these were not victimless offences and involved children being abused.
The judge noted that the defendant had shown remorse and sought assistance prior to the sentencing. For his actions in Salford, Greater Manchester, Crabtree was spared jail due to his age and previous exemplary record. The prosecution, led by Juliet Berry, reported that while the defendant had been a hard-working and respectful man, the “blemish” of these charges necessitated a mandatory period of rehabilitation and statutory supervision.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Alan Crabtree was handed:
- Community Order: 12 months, including 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for five years.
- SHPO: A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to limit his future internet access.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Manchester Crown Court following guilty pleas to three counts.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Crabtree is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Greater Manchester Police and the Probation Service. Due to the nature of the Category A images and his history of digital “compulsion” in Salford, Greater Manchester, his management is subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Crabtree must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Salford for the next five years. Authorities state that his SHPO is a critical tool for ensuring he does not resume his online activity, requiring him to submit any internet-enabled devices for forensic inspection upon request. Any breach of his registration conditions, the SHPO, or the terms of his community order will result in immediate arrest and a return to Manchester Crown Court.
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