Liam Carroll, 32, of Portinfer, Vale, admitted three offences that related to a total of five category A images and five category C. Indecent images of children are graded on a C to A ascending scale in terms of the seriousness.
He also admitted two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.
Prosecuting Advocate Sarah Watson told the court how, acting on information, police had gone to the defendant’s home. He was not there but was arrested at his work place later. His home was searched and devices seized were examined by the police hi-tech crime unit. The images were found on the devices but it was difficult to establish when they were put there.
The defendant had no previous convictions. Defending, Advocate Paul Lockwood said his client had ceased the use of pornography at least 18 months previously.
Advocate Lockwood said his client’s remorse and contrition were sincere. He had made a thorough effort to change his ways and to stay away from pornography. The man before the court today was not the troubled individual who had looked at things he should not have done. He had used no search terms relating to animals but had just found himself there, he said.
Carroll accepted that a custodial sentence was inevitable.
Judge Gary Perry said by the nature of such images it was almost impossible to detect them unless police received information. He said that possession of such images was always taken seriously by the court.
‘This sort of offending perpetuates, particularly in respect of children, the abuse that takes place and it’s people like you that that provide a market for such exploitation,’ he told the defendant.
A prison sentence of 12 months was imposed for the category A images offence while the other penalties were lesser and concurrent. Carroll was made subject to notification requirements for the next five years.