Anthony Billings - Pervert with vast collection of child porn

A PERVERT had such a vast collection of child porn images on his computer, the police were forced to examine only a sample of what they found.

Anthony Billings, of Holyhead, admitted having 157,000 images of child abuse on his computer and was jailed for two years yesterday.

Police estimate the actual collection to be more like 750,000 – one of the largest number ever detected in Britain. A total of 4,459 video clips were also found.

Officers also discovered indecent still photographs, some evidently taken with a concealed camera looking up young girls’ skirts, although these were not included in the charges.

Billings, 42, of Gilbert Street, Holyhead, was a former armourer at RAF Valley in Anglesey and subsequently a civilian worker at the base.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Hughes told Billings he had downloaded “on a vast scale.” Images ranged across all levels and involved “a huge accumulation of child pornography.”

In addition to the two-year term an indefinite order prevents Billings from working with children and from accessing pornography on the internet. It also gives police power to monitor his computer.

He must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and after his two-year sentence, because of the element of danger involved, he will be eligible to be recalled to prison if necessary during the next three years.

Richard Edwards, prosecuting, said police seized a computer and other equipment from his home last April and it was examined by a hi-tech unit.

The barrister said that if everything had been examined it would have taken an officer 24 hours a day for six months.

Mr Edwards described the content of the images as “graphic and comprehensive” and they included rape of children and unnatural acts.

While on bail Billings bought a laptop, on which further indecent material was downloaded.

Billings pleaded guilty to 18 counts of downloading and possessing porn.

Rhys Rowlands, defending, said: “He was leading something of a double life.”

He had no previous convictions and had lived quietly on his own and outwardly was hard-working and respectable.

As a result of his behaviour he had lost the respect of his family, neighbours and colleagues.

Mr Rowlands said: “His whole world has collapsed.” However he had not been involved in distributing any material.

After the case Det Con Dana McConnell of Holyhead said it was the largest collection of sexual child material ever amassed in North Wales.

welshnews