William Cottam – Aylsham

William Cottam, 60-years-old, of Purdy Way, Aylsham

UPDATE: 29/01/2026

Aylsham sex offender found with 50k child images spared jail

A man found with almost 50,000 indecent images and videos of children has been spared an immediate jail sentence.

William Cottam, 60, was arrested in October 2023 after the discovery of child sex images and extreme porn on devices belonging to him.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard the offences included 48,6604 category C photos and films together with others deemed to be category A – the most serious that involve sex acts and penetration.

Cottam, of Purdy Way, Aylsham, pleaded guilty to five offences including three of making indecent images and one of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

He also admitted possessing two extreme pornographic images involving a dog.

Magistrates sentenced him to eight months due to the “nature, seriousness and number” of offences, but they chose to suspend the jail term for 24 months saying it would lead to the loss of his accommodation.

The sentence also includes a requirement that he completes 40 rehabilitation days including an accredited programme designed to address the behaviour of sex offenders.

Annette Hall, mitigating, said the offences had been committed during a “very dark period” of his life and that prison would “punish him but would not rehabilitate him”.

She said: “This is someone with no previous convictions or cautions and up to the age of almost 60 was a law-abiding citizen.

He was fully cooperative with police and authorities throughout including considerable periods when he was on bail or released under investigation.

These offences were committed during a very dark period in his life when he was facing very significant and complex health issues, huge stress and the death of loved ones.”

Cottam told the court he was “totally ashamed of my actions” and that “I don’t want to be here again”.

He was made subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Article from: 15/01/2026

A man could be jailed after admitting possession of almost 50,000 indecent images and videos of children.

William Cottam, 60, was arrested in October 2023 after the discovery of child sex images and extreme porn on devices belonging to him.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard the offences included 48,6604 category C photos and films together with others deemed to be category A – the most serious that involve sex acts and penetration.

Cottam, of Purdy Way, Aylsham, pleaded guilty to five offences including three of making indecent images and one of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

He also admitted possessing two extreme pornographic images involving a dog.

Magistrates adjourned his sentencing until January 29 after being told the terms of a proposed Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) had not been disclosed to his legal team in time.

Cottam was granted bail with conditions to have no contact with children and not to possess any internet-enabled device unless it could retain the browning history and could be made available for inspection by police.