Man jailed for possession of indecent images of children

A man who was found in possession of a number of indecent images of children has been jailed.

Lee Norman, of Orford Avenue, Warrington, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on 5th March 2026, where he was sentenced to 10 years 8 months in prison.

The 47-year-old previously pleaded guilty to 3 counts of making an indecent image of a child, 1 count of possession of indecent images of children and one count of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence contrary to section 25 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The court heard how Cheshire Constabulary received intelligence that a Kik account had uploaded indecent images of children to the platform.

Following enquiries, officers established that the account was linked to Norman’s address in Warrington.

On Tuesday 15 April 2025, officers from the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) carried out a warrant at the address, where they seized a number of electronic devices. Norman was later arrested at his workplace.

He was released on bail to allow for the digital forensic examination of his devices, which were later found to contain 141 indecent images and videos of children, and 15 extreme images and videos of extreme pornography.

Norman continued to offend despite being on police bail. Officers were made aware by colleagues at the Northwest Regional Organised Crime Unit that Norman was engaging with one of their online decoys.

He believed the decoy had access to a 12-year-old girl and arranged to meet them at Burtonwood Service Station in Warrington so that he could sexually abuse the child.

Instead, he was greeted by plain clothed officers from the Cheshire online child abuse team and immediately arrested.

Norman was subsequently charged with multiple offences.

Following his sentencing, Detective Constable Rachel Owen said: “Norman was intent on offending and his behaviour only escalated, even when he was on police bail.

“He is clearly an incredibly dangerous individual who is fixated on harming children. His sentence reflects the severity of his actions and the risk he poses to the public.

“We want to make it clear that online child abuse material is not a victimless crime. There are real, innocent children that are forced to endure obscene acts of violence, and anyone found to be engaging with this kind of content will face the full force of the law.”

In addition to his custodial sentence, Norman was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

To report a sexual offence call Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or visit www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us.

Information can also be passed on anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.