CHRISTOPHER MURRAY FROM TAVISTOCK ESCAPES JAIL AFTER BEING CAUGHT WITH HUNDREDS OF CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN PLYMOUTH
| Red Rose Database
Tavistock Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Tavistock and the wider Plymouth area, Christopher Murray, aged 24, was found in possession of an alarming collection of indecent images depicting the abuse of children, including infants. Despite the severity of the material, Murray was handed a relatively lenient sentence by Plymouth Crown Court, raising questions about the judicial handling of such cases.
According to court reports, police discovered that Murray had downloaded over a thousand vile images and videos, some of which showed children as young as three months to six months being subjected to sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that Murray employed disturbing search terms while browsing the internet, indicating a deliberate intent to access such material. The court was told that the images included 114 still photographs and 76 videos classified as Category A, which is reserved for the most serious abuse involving children being sexually assaulted by adults. Additionally, he possessed 529 still images and 21 videos in Category B, and 255 images along with five videos in Category C, which are considered less severe but still deeply troubling.
Police action was initiated after Murray came under suspicion for purchasing a Trojan device, a tool used for hacking into other people's computers. This led to a raid on his residence in September of the previous year. During the search, officers seized a tower computer and four internal storage units, all containing the illicit images. It was established that the images had been downloaded around January of the same year, suggesting premeditation and ongoing access to such material.
In court, the prosecution, represented by Michael Brown, highlighted that Murray had no prior criminal record, which may have influenced the court's decision. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of possession of indecent images between January and September of the previous year. The court heard that Murray’s actions were particularly egregious due to the volume and nature of the images involved.
Presiding judge Recorder Rufus Taylor described the images as “pretty awful” and emphasized that the offense was aggravated by the large number of images, many of which were in the most serious category and included moving images. Despite the gravity of the case, the judge opted for a suspended sentence, reflecting a belief that Murray “needed some help.”
As part of his sentence, Murray received a ten-month prison term, suspended for two years, and was ordered to undergo sex offender treatment. The court also mandated that he pay £340 in prosecution costs and forfeit his computer equipment. To ensure ongoing monitoring, Murray was issued a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his internet use and allows authorities to keep a close watch on his activities moving forward.
This case has sparked concern among local residents and advocacy groups about the adequacy of the judicial response to such heinous crimes, especially given the leniency of the sentence handed down to someone found in possession of such disturbing material.
According to court reports, police discovered that Murray had downloaded over a thousand vile images and videos, some of which showed children as young as three months to six months being subjected to sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that Murray employed disturbing search terms while browsing the internet, indicating a deliberate intent to access such material. The court was told that the images included 114 still photographs and 76 videos classified as Category A, which is reserved for the most serious abuse involving children being sexually assaulted by adults. Additionally, he possessed 529 still images and 21 videos in Category B, and 255 images along with five videos in Category C, which are considered less severe but still deeply troubling.
Police action was initiated after Murray came under suspicion for purchasing a Trojan device, a tool used for hacking into other people's computers. This led to a raid on his residence in September of the previous year. During the search, officers seized a tower computer and four internal storage units, all containing the illicit images. It was established that the images had been downloaded around January of the same year, suggesting premeditation and ongoing access to such material.
In court, the prosecution, represented by Michael Brown, highlighted that Murray had no prior criminal record, which may have influenced the court's decision. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of possession of indecent images between January and September of the previous year. The court heard that Murray’s actions were particularly egregious due to the volume and nature of the images involved.
Presiding judge Recorder Rufus Taylor described the images as “pretty awful” and emphasized that the offense was aggravated by the large number of images, many of which were in the most serious category and included moving images. Despite the gravity of the case, the judge opted for a suspended sentence, reflecting a belief that Murray “needed some help.”
As part of his sentence, Murray received a ten-month prison term, suspended for two years, and was ordered to undergo sex offender treatment. The court also mandated that he pay £340 in prosecution costs and forfeit his computer equipment. To ensure ongoing monitoring, Murray was issued a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his internet use and allows authorities to keep a close watch on his activities moving forward.
This case has sparked concern among local residents and advocacy groups about the adequacy of the judicial response to such heinous crimes, especially given the leniency of the sentence handed down to someone found in possession of such disturbing material.