COLIN MARQUARDT SENTENCED IN BARNSTAPLE FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES

In April 2016, Colin Marquardt, a 57-year-old man from Barnstaple, was sentenced after admitting to possessing a vast collection of child abuse images. Marquardt, a divorced father of three, had spent seven years consumed with downloading and collecting over 285,000 images of child abuse across 32 different devices. His obsession was so intense that he rarely left his bedsit, remaining glued to his computers for hours on end. During these times, he would relieve himself into a bottle to avoid interrupting his activity, and he neglected personal hygiene, resulting in his teeth falling out due to infrequent brushing. He became a reclusive individual, only venturing out for shopping late at night to avoid others.

Police raided his bedsit in Barnstaple, discovering at least 285,000 images, though investigators believe the actual number could be higher as the High Tech Crime Unit ceased counting beyond that figure. Explaining his social withdrawal, Exeter Crown Court heard that Marquardt's mental health deteriorated after his marriage ended and he lost his factory job amid stress and depression. He pleaded guilty to four counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme image of bestiality.

Judge Graham Cottle sentenced him to 18 months in jail, suspended for two years. He also ordered Marquardt to attend a series of one-to-one sessions with a probation officer as part of a 60-day rehabilitative program. The judge remarked, "There were literally hundreds and thousands of images. For seven years, you led a reclusive lifestyle, living almost entirely in front of your computers downloading these pictures. You avoided social contact until the police intervention. There’s no evidence you attempted to contact children or share these images — it was solely for your own gratification. I do not believe you lack sexual interest in children; your activities suggest otherwise. Sending you directly to custody would result in untreated sex offender status. It is better for your rehabilitation and public protection that you undergo probation programs which also serve to protect potential victims."

Prosecutor Mr. David Bowen stated that during the police raid in May of the previous year, officers confiscated 32 pieces of computer equipment. Examination revealed 1,825 images categorized as the most severe, depicting child rape, alongside 284,685 images in lower categories B and C, which included images of minors aged four to 13 involved in abuse or related activities. During police interviews, Marquardt admitted he was an uncontrollable collector. Defense lawyer Mr. Richard Crabb noted that Marquardt had led a typical family and working life until a breakdown in 2006, after which he became isolated and chronically depressed. His hygiene severely declined, with infrequent washing and lost teeth, using a bottle to urinate and staying mostly indoors.

Crabb added that Marquardt is now receiving mental health support, has reconnected with his children, and is beginning to rebuild social contacts. The court heard about his guilty plea in March 2016, where he admitted to more than 280,000 images of child abuse downloaded over several years, with 1,825 at the most serious level depicting sexual assault involving adults and children. Judge Jeremy Griggs ordered a probation pre-sentence report and released him on bail, warning that this did not imply the final sentencing outcome would be lenient.