Councillor had pictures of boys in shower

Mike Buckley

A SADDLEWORTH councillor has pleaded not guilty to charges of making indecent pictures of underage boys.

The images were found on 67-year-old Councillor Mike Buckley’s computer when police executed a search warrant at his home in Dobcross in March, last year.

Councillor Buckley is alleged to have had 421 category C images — the lowest of three categories, defined as indecent images with no sexual activity — of children stored on the device.

Before being asked to tender pleas at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, he was asked by Judge Timothy Mort whether he needed more time to consider.

He asked whether he understood that in the event of a jury conviction after a trial, an immediate custodial sentence could follow, whereas given credit for guilty pleas, a more lenient sentence was possible.

His barrister Sarah Reade told the court she had fully explained the situation to him, and he needed no extra time to reflect on his decision.

Mr Buckley denies 17 counts of making indecent pictures and will now go on trial on December 2.

The court had previously been told that the images had no overtly sexual content, but were of boys playing instruments, swimming and showering, with exposed genitalia.

Ms Reade had asked the court if Mr Buckley might have access to his computer which is currently in the hands of the police, to copy documents related to a project he was working on.

Judge Mort said he had no power to make such an instruction, but the Crown prosecutor Philip Dobson, said he considered the application reasonable and would pass his views on to Greater Manchester Police.