July 2016

Vile sex offender jailed for lying to mum of two Plymouth girls

A convicted sex offender acted as a stepfather to two teenage girls after forming a relationship with their mother – while hiding his vile past from the family.

Adam Eden, aged 50, has been jailed for lying to police trying to monitor his behaviour.

The mother, who discovered his conviction for child sex assaults by chance, said she was “heartbroken” and “shocked”.

The woman, in a statement to Plymouth Crown Court, said: “I allowed him into my family to spend extensive personal time with the girls, which I am embarrassed and ashamed about.”

Eden told her that a letter from the probation service was “because he was in trouble with the water authority”.

Judge Paul Darlow jailed Eden for eight months.

But the sentence will make little difference – because he was already been thrown back in jail until December next year for breaching his prison licence.

Eden, of Lisson Grove in Mutley, admitted four counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order on various dates between June 2014 and June 2016.

He is banned from spending 12 hours or more under the same roof with anyone under 18.

Eden must also tell the police if he spends more than seven nights at another address within a year.

He must also register his bank account and passport details with officers.

Eden was handed a seven-year prison sentence at Manchester Crown Court for offences including 11 counts of indecent assault of a girl under 14 and six of sexual activity with a child.

He denied his crimes but was convicted after a trial in December 2010.

Nigel Hall, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Eden had a nine-month relationship with the woman, who was oblivious of his conviction.

The court heard she had two daughters, the youngest being 17 at the start of the relationship.

He added the defendant lived there for six nights a week, without telling officers monitoring him.

Mr Hall said the woman discovered a letter from probation and called the police – after Eden told her he was only in trouble with the water board.

Police searching his home found an unregistered passport and details for an unregistered bank account.

Geoff Parlby, for Eden, said that he had been recalled on licence to serve the rest of his sentence and was not due for release until December next year.

He said: “There was no evidence that he was cultivating a relationship with either of the two daughters.

July 2016

Woking man gets six years in prison for sexual assaults against “a vulnerable child”

A Woking man will spend six years behind bars for a number of sexual assaults against a girl under the age of 13.

Fifty-two year old Mark Smith of Princess Road, Maybury, was found guilty of two offences which happened in the Sheerwater area between April 2005 and April 2006.

Surrey Police say his “immoral” actions have left a young woman “battling to put her demons behind her.”

Smith was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court today (7 July).

DS Juliette Wright from West Surrey Police Safeguarding Investigation Unit she hopes the sentence reflects the severity and depravity of the offence: “He abused a vulnerable child who was totally in his enthral and now, as a result of his immoral activities, a young woman is battling to put her demons behind her.

“I hope the sentence will to some extent help her to move forward with her life and feel that justice has been served.

“She is to be commended for her bravery in helping bring Smith to justice and I am grateful that she placed her trust in Surrey Police enabling the team to investigate the allegations.

“This should serve as a warning to those who do or have sexually abused individuals, including young children that Surrey Police takes all such allegations seriously and will fully investigate whether in regard to a recent or non-recent allegation.”

Smith was also given a sexual offences prevention order for ten years and will sign the Sex Offender’s Register for life.

July 2016

‘Loner’ caught with indecent videos and images of children

LONER David Wagstaff downloaded indecent images of children on his computer.

The 27-year-old was arrested after police officers raided his Talke address.

Officers seized his laptop and hard drive, which were examined and were found to contain four indecent still images and 22 indecent movies, including 15 at category A – the most serious.

Now Wagstaff has been handed a three-year community order at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Kevin Jones said police went to the defendant’s home in Talke on March 25 last year.

Mr Jones said: “Police recovered a laptop computer and hard drive. They were examined and police found indecent images on them.”

In total police found two still images at category B; two at category C; 15 movies at category A; five at category B and two at category C.

The images were downloaded between January 5, 2014 and March 26, 2015 and involved children aged six to 14.

The defendant made full admissions in his police interview.

Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Wagstaff to a three-year community order with conditions he completes the internet sex offender group work programme and a rehabilitation activity requirement for 10 days.

He was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for three years and will be on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Judge Glenn said: “I accept you are now disgusted by your behaviour. Your actions would have had a detrimental effect on your family. You present as a somewhat isolated individual who lacks confidence and suffers from low self-esteem.

“These are real children being abused.”

Wagstaff must also pay £250 costs.

July 2016

Man jailed for gang’s rape and sale of boy, 14, for sex

A Stoke-on-Trent man was part of a gang which has been jailed for almost 60 years for committing historical sexual offences against two boys.

Ashley Sherrington, aged 24, of Dawlish Drive, Bentilee, was sentenced to nine years in prison for rape after a jury at Warwick Crown Court found him guilty of his part in a gang which abused the boys and sold them for sex.

Another man has been jailed for life and eight others received sentences totalling 58 years after a three-month trial in May.

The court heard how two separate victims had been left traumatised by the abuse. One of the victims was aged 15 at the time of the offences in 2002 and 2003, the second was between 14 and 15 at the time of the offences in 2009 and 2010.

The convictions followed a a review of the historic investigations was conducted by West Midlands Police Public Protection officers.

A further approach was made to the victim – then aged 18 – who agreed to co-operate with the police review team. He provided further details of the abuse he had suffered and details which lead to the review team being able to identify 12 men.

July 2017

Pervert found with hundreds of indecent images of children said he was trying to download music

DEPRAVED David Stevens downloaded indecent images of children for his own sexual gratification.

The 26-year-old was arrested after police raided his Silverdale home and seized three laptops and a computer.

They were analysed and were found to contain hundreds of indecent images of children including 46 still images and 15 movies at category A – the most serious.

Now Stevens has been handed a three-year community order and placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Prosecutor John Brotherton told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that police officers raided Stevens’ home on May 7, 2014. Mr Brotherton said: “Police searched the premises and seized some computer equipment. “All the computers were examined.”

In total, police found 46 still images at category A; 22 at category B and 297 at category C. They found 15 movies at category A and four movies at category C.

The court heard Stevens had used search terms designed to find pornographic images of children.

He told police he had accidentally downloaded indecent images or movies of children when trying to download music.

He said he started to search for pre-teen images ‘out of curiosity’.

Stevens, of Kinsey Street, Silverdale, pleaded guilty to five offences of making indecent images of children.

July 2016

Indecent images found on military man’s computer

A MAN who downloaded indecent images of children and bestiality acts has been warned he could still face being sent before a judge to be sentenced.

Former military man Anthony Pearce of Saltash Road came before magistrates sitting in Swindon on Wednesday morning where he pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornographic images of people performing sex acts on animals.

The 56-year-old admitted downloading seven indecent images of category C rating between November 23, 2013 and July 17, 2014, 12 images of category B between the same dates and 14 of category A during the same time.

He was also found to have 25 extreme pornographic images involving animals.

His defence, Ben Worthington, told the magistrates that the images had been found in Pearce’s temporary internet history folder. He explained that he had been in the army for 22 years and was still serving full time in the Territorial Army as a reservist.

“He recognises that what he has done is wrong,” said Mr Worthngton. “He has referred himself to the Lucy Faithful Foundation – he has gone and sought out that assistance himself and has had to pay for it himself.”

The magistrates ordered a presentence report be prepared on him and adjourned matters until July 29 for Pearce to meet with the Probation Service.

Chairman of the bench Jonathan Chappell told him: “On receipt of that report the sentencing bench will have all options open to them including sending this to the crown court if it is felt that the powers of the magistrates’ court are insufficient for this series of offences to which you stand convicted.

“You may still be committed to the crown court where the judge may impose a greater sentence than we can.”

In the meantime Pearce was released on conditional bail not to have any unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18 in a place of privacy.

July 2016

Lancashire lawyer suspended after being caught with indecent photos of young girls

A LAWYER from East Lancashire has been suspended from practising by his professional watchdog after being caught with indecent photographs of young girls.

Police cautioned Michael Loveridge, 62, after he was found in possession of four images of girls in indecent poses and one short video, the Solicitor’s Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) was told.

And now, Loveridge, who ran his own self-titled firm in Well Terrace, Clitheroe, has been barred from acting as a solicitor for 12 months after admitting to two misconduct allegations during a hearing in London.

The tribunal heard that initially the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority had received a referral from Loveridge’s own representatives, Murdoch Solicitors, informing them of the caution. An inquiry was undertaken by the SRA and the matter was referred to the SDT.

Nick Trevette, for Loveridge, told the hearing that the images were at the lowest category of seriousness, and had involved 14 to 16-year-olds, rather than young children.

The solicitor had searched for images relating to teenage girls and cheerleaders, and had understood that the girls involved were aged over 18, he said.

Mr Trevette told the hearing that it was to his client’s credit that he had contacted his own solicitors, shortly after accepting the caution, to arrange for the matter to be reported to the appropriate.

Tribunal chairman Ashok Ghosh said: “While the tribunal was satisfied that the respondent’s offence was at the least serious end of the scale for such matters, it was nevertheless a serious matter.

“The public would expect a solicitor to be someone who could be trusted to the ends of the earth, and of the utmost probity and integrity.”

“Given the huge damage done by child pornography, and the great importance of safeguarding the welfare of children, possession of images of the kind in question in this case could not be dismissed as being in any way minor matters.”

The tribunal heard Loveridge had been forced to dispose of his firm, which involved paying off run-off insurance costs of £40,000. Since the caution, he had been employed as a consultant solicitor by another firm, which was aware of his pending disciplinary action.

Loveridge was also ordered to pay £3,000 costs in relation to the SDT hearing.

July 2016

Jail for man who sexually abused vulnerable boy found in his hotel room

A man from Shepherd’s Bush has been jailed for 11 years sex crimes committed against a vulnerable boy in the West Midlands.

Michael Godbold was one of 10 men sentenced on Wednesday (July 6) for committing historical sexual offences against two boys who were both sexually exploited in their teens.

The victims were left traumatised by their ordeal. One was aged 15 at the time of the offences in 2002 and 2003, while the second was between 14 and 15 at the time of the offences in 2009 and 2010.

Godbold, from Uxbridge Road, and his co-defendants Tahir Hussain, Stephen Kelly, Kevan Tudor, Peter Joynes, Ronald Potter, Ian Prestleton, Allan Priest, Ashley Sherrington and Robert Bailey were convicted following a 12-week trial in May. Two men were found not guilty.

On August 18 2010, Godbold was found in a Birmingham hotel room with one of the victims, who had been staying in secure accommodation and receiving counselling from Barnardo’s after previously running away from care and claiming to be sexually abused.

A third party made allegations that Godbold had previously sexually assaulted the boy and taken indecent images of him.

Godbold was arrested in November 2010 in relation to these allegations, which he fully denied and no further action was taken by the police in respect of this matter.

As the police investigation continued and further arrests were made, 58-year-old Godbold, was rearrested for the August 2010 sexual abuse allegations.

Police later identified a further victim of Potter’s, a 15-year-old homeless and vulnerable boy who was sexually in 2002 and 2003 and abused and passed to other men.

Godbold received his 11-year sentence for arranging or facilitating child prostitution, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, penetrative sexual activity with a child, making indecent images of a child and four counts of possessing a controlled drug.

July 2016

Rapist Arthur Bonner jailed for 14-and-a-half years

A RAPIST has been jailed for 14-and-a-half years, after being found guilty following a week long trial.

Arthur John Bonner, 63, was convicted of four sexual offences at Salisbury Crown Court on Monday. Two of them took place in the early 1970s, one in 1993 and the other in 2014.

The offences, which took place in Salisbury, were rape, buggery of a male under 16, indecent assault of a male, and sexual assault of a female.

July 2016

Child abuser caught after manhunt admits string of sex offences

A Teesside man has admitted a string of sex offences with children.

Ian Goodwin, 47, entered guilty pleas to a total of 12 offences during a brief hearing before Judge Sean Morris at Teesside Crown Court.

Each involves sexual activity with two young boys in Eston between September 2014 and January 2015.

He admitted four counts of rape with a children under the age of 13, five counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault, one count of voyeurism and one count of making indecent images of children.

He denied another sexual assault charge which will lie on the court file.

A manhunt was launched by police last month to find Goodwin, after he failed to answer bail.

A photograph of Goodwin was circulated to all police forces throughout the UK and he was arrested in North Yorkshire.

The case was adjourned, for a background report on the defendant to be prepared.

Goodwin, of no fixed address, will be sentenced at the court on August 12.

He was remanded in custody until then.

July 2016

Police praise bravery of remorseless Swindon victim

A 64-year-old man has been jailed for two counts of indecently assault a boy in Swindon in the 1970s and early ’80s.

Terrance Taylor, of Eryrys, Mold, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on Monday following a week-long trial in June.

He was sentenced to four years for each count of indecent assault. The sentences will run concurrently.

When the assaults took place, the male victim was aged between seven and 14 and lived in Swindon.

DC Tina Staynings said: “These offences took place between the ’70s and ’80s – the victim was just seven-years-old when the abuse started.

“Taylor subjected him to years of abuse and he has been living with the awful memories of his actions for the rest of his life.

“It was only in 2014 when the victim felt able to disclose the details of what he had endured to a close family member and then to police.

“I would like to take this opportunity to praise the victim for the huge amount of courage he has shown in not only contacting police, but in providing a witness statement, and reliving his ordeal in court during the trial.

“His family have also shown great strength and provided evidence at court regarding the impact Taylor had on their lives.

“This man has shown no remorse for his despicable actions and I hope the sentence handed out by the judge goes some way in helping the victim find some closure and that it enables him to move on with his life knowing justice has been done.

“Finally, I would like to urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual assault, regardless of how much time has passed since the incident, to call police immediately via 101.”

July 2016

Pomeroy pervert film-maker who abused girl for six years worked with youngsters after sex crime charges

A paedophile film-maker worked with young people while awaiting trial for a string of child sex attacks

Aiden Patrick Molloy was last week jailed for two years after he was found guilty of a six-year campaign of sex abuse against a young schoolgirl.

The girl was molested by Molloy several times between 1998 and 2004, when she was aged between 13 and 19.

Concerns have been raised that the 55-year-old worked with children after being charged with sex offences.

Molloy, from Loughbracken Road, Pomeroy, described himself on business websites as a film-maker.

He owns his own production and filming company called Molloy Films. Before his conviction, a large portion of his work involved filming weddings, Christenings, school, sporting and community events.

Following a complaint to police, Molloy was charged more than 18 months ago with indecently assaulting the schoolgirl on a number of occasions.

He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. But despite the nature of the charges against him, he continued to work with youngsters.

It is understood that those who commissioned him were unaware of the allegations.

Earlier this year, just a few months before he was due to stand trial, he filmed a number of schoolgirls for a charity event.

And in December, he filmed a Christmas Santa run featuring several children.

A source close to the case said: “It is indefensible that this man was working with children and young girls while awaiting trial on extremely serious sex abuse charges.

“To make it worse, no parents were notified that the man working with their children was accused of child sex offences.

“This man is extremely manipulative. He is not a nice man, but for many years was able to fool so many people.”

In May, Molloy was found guilty by a jury of three charges of indecent assault on the girl that he molested.

Last week, a judge jailed him for two years and placed him on the sex offenders’ register.

The judge said, however, that he would not make an order banning the defendant from working with children upon his release from prison.

He explained the court was satisfied, having regard to all the circumstances, that it was unlikely Molloy would commit any further offences against a child.

The judge added that it was therefore unnecessary to disqualify the defendant from working with children under the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Order.

He did, however, impose a Sexual Offences Prevention Order prohibiting Molloy from having contact with children under the age of 16, apart from unavoidable contact taking place in the course of everyday life, for a period of five years.

July 2016

Manningham man who sexually abused girl, 15, jailed at Bradford Crown Court

A MANIPULATIVE sexual predator has been jailed for four years for a “campaign” of abuse against an infatuated girl less than half his age.

Shapoul Ali, 33, first approached the 15-year-old on the street when she was wearing her school prom dress.

He lied about his age and flattered and groomed her until she was in his clutches, a court heard.

Ali, of Marlborough Road, Manningham, Bradford, was yesterday found guilty of four offences of sexual activity with a child.

During his trial at Bradford Crown Court, prosecutor Jayne Beckett accused Ali of leading his victim “a merry dance.”

He had oral sex with her in his car and, after her 16th birthday, they had a full sexual relationship.

In a statement read out in court after the guilty verdicts, the teenager said she had never had a boyfriend until she met Ali.

He had used and manipulated her, turning her against her friends and keeping her out late when she was at college.

“He thought he could do as he pleased with my body,” she stated.

Mrs Beckett said Ali targeted the girl and there was a big age difference between them.

“There is an element of grooming here. It began with flattery and then continued up to a certain point when he had her in his clutches,” Mrs Beckett said.

Mark Brookes, Ali’s barrister, said he had no previous convictions. He was married with a young child and had studied accountancy and book keeping.

Judge David Hatton QC ordered Ali to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.

He made an indefinite restraining order banning him from approaching his victim or communicating with her in any way.

The judge said Ali knew the girl was 15 throughout the period of his offending, although she was not far short of her 16th birthday and the sexual activity was consensual.

“She was clearly, unaccountably, infatuated with you,” he said.

“The legislation is there to protect young girls from older men and to protect them from themselves – to stop them being taken advantage of.”

July 2016

Man admits extreme pornography

A man has admitted possessing an array of extreme pornography and indecent images of children.

At Carlisle Crown Court today, John Robert Nugent, 58, admitted six counts of making indecent still photographs of children, two charges of possessing prohibited still images of children and the possession of extreme pornographic moving images.

His offences came to light after police searched a Maryport address in November, 2014.

Two computer towers were seized along with an external hard drive and a laptop, leading to the illegal images being recovered.

Nugent’s case was adjourned by Judge Barbara Forrester, who directed that a background report on the defendant should be prepared by the probation service.

Nugent – formerly of Maryport but now of Shotteswell, Warwickshire – was granted bail.

He is due to be sentenced at the crown court on Wednesday, July 27.

July 2016

Steven Martin BROWN, Upton Road, Torquay. Age: 27.

Between 01/01/2010 and 26/11/2015 at Newton Abbot made an indecent photograph, namely 3,817 indecent photographs and movies, of a child.

Plea: Guilty.

Remanded on conditional bail until 25/07/2016 at Torquay Magistrates’ Court for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

July 2016

Black Country child abuser jailed for life for rape of teenage runaway

A HALESOWEN man who raped a 14-year-old runaway has been jailed for life.

The boy had been ‘sold into prostitution’ after running away from a children’s home, a court was told.

Alan Priest, who carried out the sex attacks in his caravan, was among a gang of nine men convicted after a three-month trial at Warwick Crown Court.

Another man, Cradley Heath bus driver Ian Prestleton, 54, of High Haddon Road, was found guilty of sexual activity with a child, he was jailed for three years.

The boy had been ‘picked up’ by another member of the gang at New Street station in Birmingham after running away from the home.

As she jailed the men for a total of more than 68 years, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano said: “Like many teenagers, he did not like being in care, and got into the habit of running away from care homes; and one of the reasons he was able to do that and stay away and support himself was because of his connection with many of you.”

She added: “He effectively started to work as a prostitute catering for the desires of mainly gay and older men knowing he only agreed to have sex with them because they paid for it, and knowing he was too young to have sex with anyone.”

The court heard Priest, aged 63, of Haywood Bridge, carried out the attacks in 2010 and 2011, he was found guilty of rape and sexual activity with a child.

He was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of seven years before he can apply for parole after the judge was told he had previous convictions for sexually abusing teenage boys in 2004 and 2012.

His then boyfriend, Ashley Sherrington, aged 24, of Stoke-on-Trent, was found guilty of rape and jailed for nine years.

JUDGE Sylvia de Bertodano slammed the police for not properly investigating the victim’s allegations when he first reported the abuse.

She said: “These are tragic examples of how vulnerable children have been let down by the authorities over the years.

“He complained to the police very early on, before he met many of you who sit in the dock now, but his complaints were not followed up.

She added: “The result was that he was sent to a secure care home, which he hated; and he felt not only powerless and unsupported, but aggrieved and confused that when he complained about your behaviour, he was the one who was locked up while those who abused him remained free.”

July 2016

Two men jailed for “horrendous abuse” of a female victim in Oxford

TWO men have been jailed for their “horrendous abuse” of a female victim in Oxford following police investigation, Operation Spur.

Salik Miah, 34, of Ferry Hinksey Road, was arrested on June 2 2015 and was charged on August 24 2015 with one count of conspiracy to rape a girl, two counts of rape and one count of arranging or facilitating child prostitution.

He was convicted of all four charges and jailed for 11 years. 

Azad Miah, 37, of Riverside Court, was arrested on March 22 and charged the following day with one count of conspiracy to rape a girl, two counts of rape and one count of arranging or facilitating child prostitution. 

He was convicted of all four charges and jailed for 12 years.

The trial started at Oxford Crown Court on June 20 and the jury had been deliberating since Monday lunchtime before returning their verdict today.

The offence relates to one female victim in Oxford between January 3 2005 and March 28 2007.

Following today’s verdicts, detective inspector, Ali Driver of major crime said: “First and foremost I am delighted for the victim in this case,who suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of these men.

“I hope that with these convictions today she can feel a sense of justice.

“These convictions once again demonstrate the Force’s commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation regardless of whether it is recent or non-recent.

“When such allegations are made we will support the victim, listen to them and conduct a thorough investigation.

“I hope cases like this give victims the confidence to come forward and to speak to the police so we can investigate, or, if they would prefer, we can refer them to other organisations which can provide help and support.”

July 2016

Pervert who committed sex acts via webcam in front of children

A BUSINESSMAN who persuaded young girls in an internet chat room to watch him perform indecent acts has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Bolton Crown Court heard how 62-year-old Stephen Tauber pretended to be aged 19 to go on the Teen Chat website.

William Blake, prosecuting, told the court that in 2013 Tauber contacted a 12-year-old girl and talked sexually to her.

He said he was looking for someone to watch him perform a sexual act.

In February, 2014, he chatted to another girl and exposed himself and urinating in front of her via a webcam. The court was told he talked sexually with her and committed a sex act in front of her.

He later chatted with the girl on February 21, 2014 when she said she was 13 and wanted her to send him pictures of herself.

He told her he would not have sex with a girl aged under 16.

“I’m not one of those vile guys,” he told her.

National Crime Agency officers raided his home in Warwick Avenue, Whitefield, last August finding evidence of talk with the girls and child sexual abuse images on his laptop.

He had earlier used his mobile phone to seek facts about police catching paedophiles.

The court heard that 10 indecent images of children were found on his computer, including three of the most serious category A kind involving children aged five to 10.

When questioned by police, Tauber admitted he had sexual gratification from using the chat rooms and talking to the girls, who police have been unable to trace.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of trying to cause a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, two charges of trying to engage in sexual activity with a child and two charges of making indecent images of children.

July 2016

Sex offender who exposed himself on buses is jailed

A PERSISTENT sex offender who exposed himself on buses has been jailed.

Jason Mallett of Byron Street, Hove, had been banned from travelling on trains or buses at certain times of day – after repeatedly exposing himself.

But the 38-year-old was caught travelling on a Brighton bus and exposing himself on June 7.

Brighton Magistrates’ Court sentenced him to 16 weeks in jail.

July 2016

Granddad downloaded child abuse images on his laptop

A HEREFORD grandfather who downloaded child sexual abuse images has been ordered to take a sex offender rehabilitation programme.

Supermarket worker Christopher Drugan used cleaning software to get rid of the history on his computer, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The 53-year-old pleaded guilty to having one category B and one category C image and two videos at category C, the least serious.

Gareth Walters, prosecuting, said police executed a search warrant at Drugan’s home in Hunderton Road at 7am on January 29 this year while he was at home with his wife.

A laptop computer was sized and the images of children under 13 were found along with searches for other similar sites.

He had searched for images including 12-year-old Vietnamese girl sells her virginity and nine-year old Chilean girl molested by a neighbour, Mr Walters said.

Jason Aris, defending, said Drugan had expressed an appreciation of the harm caused by viewing child porn.

He said his offence had divided his family and some of them, including his wife, were standing by him but others were disgusted and wanted nothing to do with him.

Mr Aris said Drugan had been involved for a long time with helping to bring up his grandchildren but now faced the involvement of social services.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said the images were not the most numerous or serious to come before the courts but that was largely because Drugan had regularly wiped the data.

“You yourself have a number of children and grandchildren,” Judge Cartwright told him. “Imagine if it was one of them subjected to this sort of abuse posted on the internet. They would know the image could be found there for the rest of their lives. If you dwell on that for just a moment you will see how dreadful this is.”

Drugan was given a three year community order with a requirement to attend a sex offenders work programme and a sexual harm prevention order restricting use of the Internet.

He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and to pay £600 prosecution costs.