A CARETAKER from Knutsford who kept a laminated ‘porn stash’ containing indecent child photos hidden at a primary school has been fined.  

Colin Holman, of Warren Avenue, also kept pornographic DVDs and photos of topless adult women at school, which had been printed on A4 paper and were also laminated.

The 67-year-old often slept at the school, and had amassed a large collection of photos of female pupils previously used in wall friezes. 

He also had a collection of girls’ uniform items, all of which he claims to have recovered from school bins.

The indecent images of children found among his self-styled ‘porn stash’ were of a pre-pubescent boy around 10 years old, naked from the waist down, and a girl around 13, wearing items of school uniform with her genitals exposed.

He kept these in a locked cupboard in a storeroom, which only he had access to.

Holman had worked at the Cheshire primary school for 16 years and had earned the trust of leaders and staff before retiring early on health grounds in early 2022.

When the new caretaker took up the post in July 2022, he was asked to clean out the cupboard.

When he saw the contents, he immediately told the head teacher, who passed it on to police.

Officers later searched Holman’s home, where they found more pornography, and press clippings of sexual news stories, one about a rape, and another with the headline ‘I was treated like an animal’.

They also found more pictures of girls from the school he worked in his bedroom drawers. 

He admitted possessing the picture of a naked pre-pubescent boy, which he said he found blowing around the school car park and intended to burn, but ‘forgot’.

However, the picture had been laminated, like the rest of his collection.

He denied any knowledge of the indecent picture of the underage girl, who wasn't a pupil at his school.

She was wearing no underwear and posing in a sexualised position. This was also laminated.

Holman was charged with two counts of possessing indecent images of children, but denied both, claiming he was ‘just a hoarder’, and stood trial at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 17.

Prosecuting, Jessica Pridding said: “I put it to you, you have a sexual interest in children.

“For you, school was a context where you felt sexually aroused because you have a sexual interest in children.”

Holman was found guilty on both counts and the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

At his sentencing hearing at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 19, district judge, Jack McGarva, said a sexual harm prevention order was not appropriate in this case, though Holman should sign the sex offender register at Crewe police station for five years.

He was also given a two-year community order, including up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, and a £160 fine.

He must also pay £645 prosecution costs and a £114 victim surcharge.