June 2019

Pervert made and distributed child sexual abuse images

A Guildford man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to making and distributing over 35,000 child abuse images

Alan Witthoft, 49, was sentenced today (7 June), at Guildford Crown Court.

Witthoft was arrested after a warrant was carried out at his home address on 17 October 2018.

A detailed forensic examination of his computer and mobile phone was carried out between October 2018 and January 2019, and a large number of child abuse images, as well as search terms indicative of child abuse material, were uncovered.

Witthoft was subsequently charged with making and distributing child abuse images, including:

  • Category A – 4,944 including 576 movies;

    Category B – 5,472 including 279 movies;

    Category C – 24,570 including 212 movies;

    Prohibited – 25 including 1 movie;

    Extreme – 86 images.

  • Total – 35,097 (34,028 images and 1,069 movies).

Witthoft had also carried out more than 40 unique searches related to child abuse.

Witthoft had collected a huge number of child abuse images, including stills and videos, since 2013, which he was involved in distributing. The evidence against him was overwhelming, and he had no other option but to plead guilty.