ANDY GILLMAN FROM SOUTHAMPTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
In a case that has shocked the Southampton community, 43-year-old Andy Gillman was found to have downloaded a significant number of indecent images involving young children.The incident came to light when police officers executed a search warrant at his residence on Larkspur Chase, leading to the discovery of over 1,300 illicit pictures stored on his computer and mobile device.
Gillman was promptly arrested and faced multiple charges, including eight counts of making indecent images and two counts of possessing such material.
The investigation revealed that the images fell into various categories, with the majority classified as less severe, though the sheer volume raised serious concerns.
During the court proceedings, Gillman admitted to the charges, which could have resulted in a harsh sentence.
However, the judge, Gary Burrell QC, opted for a more lenient approach, considering the circumstances surrounding Gillman's personal life.
The defendant was handed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, and was ordered to undergo a comprehensive Internet sex offenders treatment programme.
Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register and subjected to a five-year sexual offences prevention order.
In mitigation, lawyer Ian Hope argued that Gillman had been under considerable stress at the time, which contributed to his actions.
It was also noted that 97 percent of the images were categorized as the least serious type, and that Gillman was actively involved in caring for his son, who has special needs, during weekends.
His wife, from whom he was separated, had left him, but he was hopeful that their marriage could be salvaged.
Furthermore, Gillman had recently lost his job, adding to his personal difficulties.
Judge Burrell acknowledged the gravity of the offences but emphasized the importance of considering Gillman's family responsibilities.
As part of his sentence, Gillman was also ordered to refrain from contacting girls under 16 via the Internet and was prohibited from using any device to create digital images of minors.
These measures aim to prevent any future offences and protect vulnerable children from exploitation.
