Gymnastics coach jailed for possessing 17,000 indecent images

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 09:32 · Archive

A children's gymnastics coach from Cambridgeshire has been jailed after police found 17,147 indecent images of children on his phone.

Aaron Strachan, a 26-year-old children's gymnastics coach from Huntingdon, has been jailed after police found 17,147 indecent images of children on his phone. He was arrested in August 2024 following a tip-off about indecent material on his device. The images comprised 6,080 category C images, 6,028 category B images and 5,039 category A images, the most severe classification. Police also found 56 group chats on a messaging app where indecent images were requested and shared, including by Strachan.

When initially questioned, Strachan denied any knowledge of the material and claimed he had no idea how it arrived on his phone. He suggested he may have left it unlocked at work, allowing someone else to access it. However, evidence showed the images were downloaded, viewed and shared at various times over several months.

Strachan pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to begin to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of distributing an indecent image or video. Detective Constable Matthew Walshe stated that whilst none of the children in the images have been identified as those Strachan knew or worked with, each image represents a child who was sexually abused or exploited.

How it is being reported

• Children’s gymnastics coach caught with more than 17,000 indecent images of childrenHe was found with many indecent images while working as a children's gymnastics coachCambridgeshire Live · 21 Oct, 09:52
• Gymnastics coach found with over 17,000 indecent images of children picturedChildren’s gymnastics coach Aaron Strachan, from Huntingdon, has been jailed after he was found with more than 17,000 indecent images of children.Cambs Times · 21 Oct, 09:00
• Gymnastics coach found with over 17,000 indecent images of children picturedChildren’s gymnastics coach Aaron Strachan, from Huntingdon, has been jailed after he was found with more than 17,000 indecent images of children.Ely Standard · 21 Oct, 09:00

In this story: Aaron Strachan · Huntingdon · Cambridgeshire · Matthew Walshe

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