Indecent Images Client Given Community Order

Case study summary

In December 2022, the Police found our client in possession of 600 images of Indecent Images of Children. We were able to have one of the original four charges dropped and he was given a three-year community order.

Case study

In December 2022, the police found 600 indecent images of children on one device belonging to our client. These included 105 of Category A, 115 of Category B and 380 of Category C. We represented him from the police station interview and throughout the whole process. Our client was not charged until December 2023. He was originally charged with four offences, one charge relating to each category of images viewed and a further charge of viewing 600 images. We made representations that he ought not to be charged twice for the same offence and the Prosecution agreed to discontinue the duplicated charge. Our Client entered guilty pleas to the three offences and his case was sent to the Crown Court.

We mitigated on his behalf and made representations to the Court that our client was a man of good character who had been struggling with the isolation he found himself suffering on retirement. Our client had even engaged with a rehabilitative course prior to his sentencing to demonstrate his commitment to preventing the offending behavior reoccurring. We also made submissions to the effect that custody was not an option for our client because he is the Legal Guardian for his mother who suffers from advanced dementia and he is her only family.

Having heard our submissions, the court decided that the best way to prevent our client from re-offending was to allow for the maximum period of supervision in the community. A three year Community Order was imposed as a direct alternative to custody to allow maximum time for our client to engage with the Probation Service.