A man has been sentenced to a 16-month suspended prison term after being convicted of multiple sexual offences, including making indecent images of children.

William Richards, 27, of Coxley, was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on 2 January 2025 following a series of offences committed between 2014 and 2023.

The charges included voyeurism and the creation of indecent images of children, with offences spanning multiple locations, including Pershore, Evesham, Gloucester, Bournemouth, Bristol, and Malaga, Spain.

The court heard how Richards was found to have made indecent images of children on 4 April 2022 in Gloucester. These included both still and moving images, categorised under the UK's grading system for such offences. Category A, the most severe, involved the creation of 10 still and eight moving images. Category B offences included eight still and five moving images, while Category C, the least severe but still illegal, involved 27 still and two moving images.

Richards' 16-month prison sentence was suspended, meaning he will not serve time in prison unless he breaches the conditions set by the court. He has, however, been placed on the sex offenders register for the next 10 years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for the same period. This order will impose strict limitations on his activities, including restrictions on his use of the internet and unsupervised contact with children.

As part of his sentencing, Richards was also ordered to complete the Horizon sex offender programme, a structured course designed to reduce the risk of reoffending by addressing sexual offending behaviour. The programme, typically delivered through the probation service, focuses on helping offenders develop healthy attitudes and understand the impact of their actions on victims.

In addition to the Horizon programme, Richards must complete 45 days of rehabilitation work. This requirement involves structured sessions aimed at addressing personal issues linked to offending, such as emotional regulation, decision-making, and empathy for victims.

Richards was also handed a six-month GPS trail requirement, meaning he will be electronically monitored to track his movements, providing authorities with a way to ensure compliance with his restrictions. He has further been ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work as part of his community sentence.

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