East Lancs man sentenced for downloading child abuse images

EAST LANCS MAN SENTENCED FOR DOWNLOADING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

An East Lancs man who downloaded pornographic images of children was described in court as having “a deviant interest in the sexual abuse of children”.

Blackburn magistrates heard Alex Wilkinson was initially arrested by police investigating sexual communication with a girl.

Images discovered on his laptop and phone depicted the abuse and rape of children as young as five.

Wilkinson, 57, of Honeysuckle Court, Huncoat, pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children.

He was sentenced to 42 weeks in prison suspended for two years with 30 days rehabilitation activity requirement and a condition that he completes the building choices programme.

He was made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order both for 10 years.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said that during an eight-year period Wilkinson had systematically searched for images of children being abused and raped.

“It is people like you who create a market for people to make and upload images of children being abused,” said District Judge Preston.

“It is people like you who cause children to be abused and raped.

You are a 57-year-old man who has a deviant interest in the sexual abuse of children.” District Judge Preston reserved any breach of the sentence to herself and said if there was a breach she would send him to prison.

Nicola Mills, prosecuting, said there had been no further action on the sexual communication allegation.

She said Wilkinson initially said others could have had access to his devices.

Examination of his devices showed he had browsed internet sites entitled "paedophile" and "attracted to children".

“The offences are aggravated by the ages of the children and the discernible pain and suffering inflicted on them,” said Miss Mills.

Ian Huggan, defending, said it was now nearly five years on from the end date of the offences and there was no indication of any ongoing investigations involving his client.