Paedophile with ‘entrenched attraction to children’ jailed

Ian Isherwood appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday via video link from HMP Liverpool.

The court heard that the 43-year-old was investigated by police back in 2023, when officers uncovered hundreds of indecent images of children on his mobile phone.

This included 52 category A images – the most severe form of abuse involving child rape – as well as 72 category B and 323 in category C.

It was also found that Isherwood had made bank transfers to an account associated with distributing indecent images of children, although these images were not recovered.

Prosecting, Mark Roberts told the court that while examining his device officers found a file saved on his phone which contained an indecent image of a child.

This was a picture Isherwood had taken himself of a young girl, who was under the age of 13 when the photograph was taken.

Officers managed to locate the child in Warrington, who then informed them that Isherwood had sexually abused her.

The Isherwood had engaged in sexual activity with the young girl by touching her genitals orally, masturbating in front of her and encouraging her to perform a sex act on him.

Isherwood, of Shipton Street in Bolton but formerly of Warrington, was interviewed by police where he either made no comment or responded with a prepared statement denying the offences.

Isherwood was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

His denials continued to court, where he continued to plead not guilty to the sexual offences against the young child and forced her to endure a trial.

Isherwood’s brave victim gave evidence in court, and Isherwood was later found guilty by a jury.

At his sentencing, the court heard an impact statement written by the victim which was read on her behalf by Mr Roberts.

This statement noted how the abuse and the trial had led the young girl to suffer with severe anxiety and stress.

Defending, Martyn Walsh told the court that Isherwood had become ‘desensitised to pornography’ after being introduced to it at a young age.

Mr Walsh also noted that the 43-year-old ‘needs help’ and that his risk can be managed upon his eventual release from prison.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Gary Woodhall noted how Isherwood has an ‘entrenched attraction to children’ and that he poses a high risk of sexual offending in the future.

Isherwood was sentenced to a total of 12 years immediate imprisonment, where he will have to face a parole board to assess his level of risk before he is released, and must then serve an extra three years on licence.

He must abide by a sexual harm prevention order and remain on the sex offenders register ‘until further order’.

A restraining order was also put in place to protect his victim for the next 18 years.