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25
Jul
Pateley Bridge man admits possessing hundreds of indecent images of children
Warning: this article contains distressing information.
A Pateley Bridge man has admitted making hundreds of indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography.
Paul Elliott, of Greenhow Hill near Pateley Bridge, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (July 23) where he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Elliott, 52, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing extreme pornography.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court that police executed a warrant at Elliott’s address on March 22, 2026, after a referral made to the National Crime Agency from his former employer.
Officers seized devices, including a Dell laptop and an external hard drive, where images of children were found, the court heard.
Ms Tyrer said the images found on the devices dated from July 29, 2015, to May 22, 2024.
Police found 898 category C images and 11 category B images of children. Officers also found 10 category A images — which is the most serious kind.
The court heard that the children in the images were aged between eight and 15-years-old. There was also an extreme pornographic image of a person having sex with a dog.
Ms Tyrer said:
There were a high volume of images and moving images. Mr Elliott chose to make no comment when he was interviewed.
Elliott had no previous convictions, the court heard.
Andrew Tinning, defending, offered no mitigation at this stage and requested that a pre-sentence report be prepared.
Magistrates adjourned the case to September 17, 2026, at Harrogate Magistrates Court, where Elliott will appear for a sentencing hearing.
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