July 2015 Bargoed man with sock fetish spared jail over child images A BARGOED man with a sock fetish has been spared jail for the possession of more than 400 indecent images of children. Christopher Riddle, aged 49, now of Splott Road in Cardiff, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court, on Friday charged with possession of indecent images of children. He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. The court heard that Gwent Police executed a warrant in March 2014 at the previous address of the defendant in St Gwladys Avenue, Bargoed, following an operation by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. There police seized a Packard Bell tower computer which contained 2,500 non nude images of children, 19 category B indecent images and 440 category C indecent images of children. The court heard that Riddle did not have in his possession any category A indecent images, which are the most serious. Prosecutor Jason Howells said the defendant’s computer showed search terms including ‘lederhosen boy’. The court heard that Riddle during his police interview said any images of children came up because of his sock fetish. He told police that he viewed adult mainstream pornography and looked for young girls and boys around 13 to 14-years-old. The CEOP operation were alerted to Riddle after he ordered three videos in 2010. Riddle has a previous conviction from 2005 of eight charges of making indecent images. He was given a conditional discharge by magistrates in the Vale of Glamorgan. Judge Michael Fitton QC said: “What you were doing was looking for images to satisfy your sexual fetish which you have disclosed. In the course of researching for that fetish you viewed indecent images of children. “The offence is made more serious by your previous conviction 10 years ago. For an offence similar in nature and for reasons I cannot pretend to understand in 2005 you were given a conditional discharge.” Riddle was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years. He will also have to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, he will be put on the sexual offenders register, have to pay costs of £300 and will be the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.