EASTLEIGH MAN DANIEL CORDORY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN SOUTHAMPTON

In June 2021, Daniel Paul Cordory, a 35-year-old resident of Eastleigh, faced serious legal consequences after being found in possession of a large collection of indecent images depicting children. The incident came to light when police officers executed a search warrant at his residence on Twyford Road, Eastleigh. During the raid, authorities discovered that Cordory’s desktop computer contained an alarming total of 7,148 images classified as pornographic, many of which featured cartoon and animated depictions of children.

Prosecutor Christopher Amis detailed the findings during the court proceedings, explaining that a preliminary analysis of Cordory’s computer revealed numerous files containing cartoon and animated-style images of children. These files raised significant concern due to their explicit nature, despite being animated rather than real photographs. During police interviews, Cordory attempted to justify his possession of such images by claiming that “pop-up images of children had appeared” while he was browsing adult websites. He further stated that he had taken measures to prevent these pop-ups from reappearing, suggesting an attempt to dismiss or minimize the severity of his actions.

The court also heard that Cordory engaged in online activities involving a computer game that depicted children being subjected to abuse. The prosecution highlighted that within this game, the defendant appeared to control characters that were described as clearly child-like. However, the barrister emphasized that these images and characters were purely cartoon-based, asserting that there was no actual victim involved in the case. Despite the disturbing nature of the content, the court acknowledged that the images were animated, which influenced the legal considerations.

Daniel Cordory was formally charged with possessing prohibited images of a child. He pleaded guilty to the single count of possession after his arrest in July of the previous year. The court documents described his collection of images as grossly offensive, disgusting, and of an obscene character, underscoring the severity of the offense. Notably, Cordory had no prior criminal convictions, and his defense lawyer, Chris Gaiger, argued that there was potential for rehabilitation, given his lack of previous offenses.

Judge Nicholas Rowland delivered the sentence, opting for a community order that would span 24 months. This included 40 days dedicated to rehabilitation programs and 150 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, Cordory was placed under a five-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting his activities and monitoring his behavior to prevent future offenses. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and judicial authorities to combat the distribution and possession of illegal and harmful images involving minors, even in animated form.