ADRIAN WHITE OF COLYTON JAILED IN EXETER FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENCES

In July 2012, 52-year-old Adrian White from Colyton, living on Colyton Hill, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement with indecent images of children. White, who used the alias "Mr Grippy" in online exchanges, was connected to the distribution of extreme and sadistic images to other paedophiles, Exeter Crown Court heard.

White pleaded guilty to 23 counts of making or possessing indecent images and four counts of distributing them. Judge Mr Justice Butterfield remarked that some of the extreme images depicted children as young as one involved in sadistic acts.

The court learned that White, residing in rural Devon, initially began downloading pornographic material as a means of coping with social isolation. Some of the most depraved images were shared with other paedophiles he met in online chat rooms, where violent and sadistic fantasies were also exchanged.

At the time of his arrest in September of the previous year, White was working as an administrator at an electrical business in Axminster. The police investigation uncovered films and approximately 700 still images of child abuse at both his home and workplace.

Prosecutor David Bowen stated, "It involved children aged between one and 13, although most were in the younger age range. Four hundred of the images were rated at the two most severe levels." Additionally, police found chat room logs showing White exchanging extreme fantasies under the pseudonym "Mr Grippy."

During his defense, Nicola Smailes explained that White had recently experienced the loss of his father and sister and was the sole carer for his 85-year-old mother. She argued that White used the images "as a comfort and escape at a difficult time."

However, Judge Butterfield criticized White's actions, emphasizing that his behavior contributed to the exploitation and abuse of children, describing some of the material as "impossible to describe." The judge highlighted that some images involved elements of sadism on very young children and that White's offenses were compounded by his distribution of some images, which he called "shameful."