Man who had indecent images on computer jailed for two years

The images found on the computer of Richard Mark de la Mare, 52, had been downloaded between the summer of 2022 and his arrest in May 2023.

Officers’ forensic examination of his computer revealed three applications used to delete files and folders securely which, said Advocate Sarah Watson, showed the defendant’s level of planning.

Police had searched his home after information suggested that an IP address at the property, where de la Mare lived alone, was being used to download indecent images of children.

The defendant was sitting in front of a computer in his bedroom. There was a USB storage device nearby and a piece of paper that contained handwritten references to websites and individuals known to pertain to indecent images of children. He was arrested and denied having indecent images of children.

In his first interview, de la Mare gave mainly no comment answers but disclosed the password to his computer. He said the handwritten note had referenced details of websites relating to clothed fashion models. In a second interview, after the seized items had been examined, he said nude images had come up from time to time but he had deleted them.

He denied having a sexual interest in children but said he got a thrill at looking at them because they should not be there. He was more interested in conspiracy theories than indecent images of children.

Some 500 images, stills and videos, were recovered from the computer, most in category C but 27 at the most serious level of category A and 44 from category B.

Defending, Advocate Paul Lockwood said he was not instructed to waste the court’s valuable time by suggesting that anything other than a sentence of immediate custody would be appropriate.

But he asked the court to take in to account his client’s early guilty pleas and vulnerability. The probation report referred to his neurodiversity, cognitive impairment, and autism, and while there had been no formal diagnosis, this led to his lack of understanding and empathy towards others. He led a withdrawn and isolated existence and had lost all his worldly goods when having to surrender his tenancy following his remand in custody after arrest.

Sentencing, Lt-Bailiff Russell Finch said the defendant had engaged in planned and repetitive behaviour with no consideration for the effect that it had on victims or that he was helping to drive a market for such material.

‘Such offences are likely to cause long-term serious harm to the victims,’ he said. ‘You did your best to minimise your blame in very damning circumstances.’

De la Mare was jailed for two years, concurrent on each offence. He will be subject to an extended sentence licence for three years upon his release and notification requirements for five years.

The prosecution’s application for forfeiture and destruction of the computer and the USB device was not opposed.