Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Thursday 3rd April 2025, at 18:05hrs
A 47-year-old man from Halifax has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after police discovered a vast collection of indecent images of children on his computer.
Michael Duck, of Harewood Avenue, Halifax, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court following an investigation by Calderdale District’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT).
The investigation began in June 2022 when officers seized electronic devices from Duck’s home. Forensic analysis of the seized computers and phones revealed a staggering 55,000 indecent images of children.
Despite refusing to cooperate with police during interviews and throughout the investigation, Duck was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children (categorized as A, B, and C), one count of possession of extreme pornography, and one count of possessing prohibited images.
Following a five-day trial at Bradford Crown Court in January, a jury found Duck guilty on all counts.
In addition to the prison sentence, Duck was given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for a minimum of 10 years.
Detective Constable Denis Parke from Calderdale OCAIT commented on the sentencing, stating,
“We are pleased that Duck will now face a custodial sentence for his crimes. He is a sexual offender who poses a significant risk to children.”
“The material he possessed and shared can only be described as abhorrent – depicting the most serious sexual offences committed by adults against children and animals,” Detective Constable Parke added.
“The distributing, possession and downloading of indecent images is depraved, and those who do it should expect to be prosecuted.”
The OCAIT is a specialist team dedicated to targeting individuals who exploit the anonymity of the internet to harm children.
Detective Constable Parke emphasized the team’s commitment, saying, “It is challenging work, but we are committed to removing dangerous people like Duck from the streets and protecting children.”
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