CHRISTOPHER HUNTER FROM MARKET DRAYTON JAILED OVER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN SHROPSHIRE

In December 2006, a man from Market Drayton, Christopher Hunter, was sentenced to a significant period of imprisonment after being found guilty of possessing and creating a large collection of indecent images of children. The case was heard at Shrewsbury Crown Court, where it was revealed that Hunter, aged 28 and residing on Milton Drive in Market Drayton, had downloaded nearly 1,800 such images, including 122 classified as the most extreme level of depravity.

During the court proceedings, prosecutors detailed how police had discovered these illicit images on Hunter’s computer. The authorities confirmed that Hunter had committed five counts of making indecent photographs and five counts of possessing them. The total number of images he downloaded was 1,772, a figure that underscores the severity of his actions.

Judge Robin Onions presided over the case and delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the images involved. The judge pointed out that many of the photographs depicted children who appeared to be helpless and in distress, highlighting the vulnerability of the victims. In his remarks, Judge Onions expressed concern about the ease with which such images can be accessed via the internet, noting that the digital age has made such material more accessible and, in some ways, desensitizing. He remarked, “The internet has made images like these accessible. It makes them remote and unreal, there is no doubt about it. People don’t look at the child, they look at the object.”

He further stated that Hunter likely did not fully comprehend the reality of the children depicted in the images, emphasizing the heinous nature of the abuse involved. Despite acknowledging Hunter’s guilty pleas, the judge suggested that the existence of a market for such images fuels the abuse, implying that without demand, some of the harm might not have occurred.

As part of his sentence, Hunter was ordered to serve 29 months in prison. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and is prohibited from working with children during that period. The court also mandated that Hunter participate in a community sex offenders work programme upon his release.

Prosecutor Mr. Max Bennett explained that Hunter’s illegal activities were facilitated by his providing credit card details to a US-based adult website, which enabled him to download the illicit images. The images ranged from level one to the most serious level five, indicating the gravity of the content involved. Hunter fully admitted his actions during police interviews, admitting that he found it difficult to resist accessing such sites for a period.

Representing Hunter, Mr. Michael Jones, stated that his client’s involvement in this criminal activity was triggered by personal circumstances, specifically the breakdown of his relationship and his return to live with his parents. Mr. Jones emphasized that Hunter recognized the wrongfulness of his actions from the very beginning, suggesting some remorse and awareness of the gravity of his conduct.

Overall, the case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, and the serious consequences faced by those found guilty of such offenses in the UK.