CHRISTOPHER CARNE SENTENCED IN BIRMINGHAM FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES

In July 2003, the Recorder of Birmingham addressed the ongoing issue of child abuse images, stating that such material 'is feeding abuse' and perpetuating the exploitation of young children.

Judge Wakerley sentenced Christopher Carne to 18 months in prison after Carne admitted to 35 charges of making indecent photographs of children over a three-year period while residing at an address on Jardine Road, Aston.

The judge remarked to Carne, 'The images you kept are as bad as I have seen.'

The city’s Crown Court was told about Carne’s secret fascination with very young girls, as his partner discovered by chance. Tracey Lloyd-Nesling explained, 'Carne’s girlfriend had to use his computer because her own was not working. She accessed the history folder and found an image of a ten-year-old girl in a bikini, posed flirtatiously, with explicit words written beneath it.'

Further files contained more disturbing images, leading her to contact friends for advice. After a discussion, she called the police, and Carne was arrested later that night.

Judge Wakerley also imposed a lifelong ban on Carne working with children and placed a 20-month supervision order to be activated upon his release from prison. He emphasized public concern, stating, 'There is the general public concern as to the availability of this filth. It feeds the practice of abuse of children, and if there was no trade in images, there would be no abuse.'

During police interviews, Carne admitted to an 'interest' in girls aged between two and ten.

Malcolm Fowler, defending Carne, stated that his client had become a 'traumatised person' since his arrest.