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Council makes first use of new powers to evict tenant convicted of child porn offences

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A Skelmersdale man has been evicted from his West Lancashire Borough Council flat after he was convicted of child porn offences.

Wigan County Court heard that Joseph Riley, aged 73, formerly of Beechwood Court, Birkrig, Digmoor, Skelmersdale, was convicted of four counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children and one count of possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of children at Liverpool Crown Court. The images were all Level A the highest-rated classification.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, given a two-year Supervision Order, and ordered to attend an Internet Sexual Offending Programme. A five-year sexual harm prevention order and a 10-year Sex Offenders Notice were also granted against him, along with a forfeiture order for all his computer equipment.

The offences were so serious that they gave the Council grounds to take action to repossess the property under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and evict Mr Riley.

This was the first time the authority had used these powers and the County Court granted possession of the property, a flat in a sheltered accommodation block, to the Council at a hearing at Wigan County Court on 22 May 2017. Mr Riley, who was not at the Wigan County Court hearing, handed the keys back to the Council on 26 May 2017.

Jacqui Sinnott-Lacey, the Council’s Director of Housing and Inclusion, said: “As a Landlord the Council simply will not tolerate tenants committing crimes in our properties. The Council has a variety of powers available to evict tenants convicted of criminal offences and we will choose the most effective method in each case. The Council has a responsibility to protect its tenants and their guests, who in this case were often young children as well as others living in the community.  As such seeking possession under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 confirms the seriousness of the situation.”

Dave Tilleray, West Lancashire Borough Council Director of Leisure and Wellbeing, said: “Child pornography is a despicable crime that preys upon the most vulnerable in our society. The Council has taken the strongest possible action against Mr Riley and this sends out a clear message to tenants that they must abide by the law. If they don’t they could lose their homes.”

1 COMMENT

  1. i am really shocked at this shows you you dont really know people he is a disgrace to his family and friends

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