Ex-council officer jailed for possession of indecent images and abuse

EX-COUNCIL OFFICER JAILED FOR POSSESSION OF INDECENT IMAGES AND ABUSE

Christopher John Black, a former events officer for Ards and North Down Borough Council, has admitted to possessing indecent images of a child and videos of bestiality on his phone.

He was sentenced earlier this month at Newtownards Magistrates Court to a four-month jail term.

Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender for seven years due to five charges of possessing extreme pornography and one charge of possessing a child image in September 2021.

Black, who previously served a six-year sentence for domestic violence, appeared by video from prison and confessed to harassing another woman, approaching her in a Bangor bar and sending unwanted emails.

The court heard how he assaulted a woman, breaking her phone and attempting to strangle her with a charger cable, leading to cuts, bruises, and hair pulled out.

In a subsequent incident, he assaulted her again, biting her cheek and causing further injuries, before fleeing the scene.

Judge Geoffrey Miller KC described his actions as callous, fueled by alcohol, with a pattern of physical and psychological abuse throughout their seven-year relationship.