In this report from October 2022, Lydia Chadwick, aged 36, of Lightburn Avenue, Ulverston, Cumbria, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment (36 months) at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday, 25 October 2022, after being convicted of eight child abuse image offences.
The criminal investigation was initiated by Cumbria Police’s Cyber and Digital Crime Unit, who executed a search warrant at Chadwick’s home address.
During the search, officers seized mobile phones and a laptop belonging to Chadwick.
Subsequent forensic examinations revealed more than 2,000 indecent images of children stored across the hardware, with upwards of 700 files classified in the most severe category of abuse.
The court heard that Chadwick utilised digital communication channels to discuss child abuse with other offenders and actively engaged in the sale and distribution of indecent imagery.
At the commencement of the trial, Chadwick claimed to suffer from a medical condition that rendered her mute and unable to speak, but she later abandoned the assertion and spoke to deliver her defence testimony.
Following deliberations, the jury found Chadwick guilty of:
- Three counts of making indecent images of children
- Three counts of distributing indecent images of children
- One count of possessing an extreme pornographic image
- One count of possessing a prohibited image of a child
The presiding judge handed Chadwick a total custodial sentence of three years’ imprisonment.
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation for sexual offences, Chadwick was required to serve two-thirds (24 months / 2 years) of her 36-month sentence in prison custody before becoming eligible for automatic statutory release on licence. Her projected release date fell in October 2024, whereupon she remained subject to licence supervision in the community until the expiration of the full term in October 2025.
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the Offender Register Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.