DAVID AUSTIN FROM BRISLINGTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES IN BRISTOL

In August 2012, a disturbing case unfolded involving David Austin, a 44-year-old resident of Brislington, who was found to possess some of the most heinous images of child sexual abuse ever reviewed by a judge. The severity of the material was such that Judge Julian Lambert, presiding over Bristol Crown Court, described the images as being among the worst he had encountered in his eight years of service on the Western Circuit.

According to the prosecution, police executed a search warrant at Austin’s residence on Eastwood Road, Brislington, on September 8 of the previous year. During the search, authorities discovered a significant collection of illicit material stored on both a computer and a mobile phone. The digital devices contained a total of 1,420 still images and 180 videos depicting child pornography and abuse. Among these, 354 of the still images were classified as level four and five, representing the most extreme categories of child exploitation imagery. Additionally, 111 of the videos fell into these same severe categories, highlighting the disturbing nature of Austin’s collection.

During police interviews, Austin was notably candid, admitting that he used a file-sharing program on his computer to distribute these images to others online. He also confessed to participating in internet chat rooms where he engaged in “sick fantasy chat” about abusing children as young as six years old. The court was informed that Austin had a troubling history, with three prior warnings issued by police authorities—two from Avon and Somerset and one from Wiltshire—pertaining to comments he had posted on the internet.

Further investigation revealed that Austin had entered search terms such as “toddler” and “young child” into search engines, indicating a disturbing interest in very young victims. He faced 18 counts of making indecent images by downloading them, a charge that underscores the seriousness of his actions. It was also revealed that Austin had previous convictions for dishonesty and was under a suspended prison sentence for producing cannabis at the time he committed these latest offences.

In sentencing, Judge Lambert imposed a total of 19 months in prison—16 months for the possession and distribution of indecent images, and an additional three months for breaching his suspended sentence. The court also issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which mandates restrictions on Austin’s access to the internet and requires him to make any devices available to police upon request. The judge ordered the destruction of the incriminating computer and mobile phone to prevent further misuse.

Throughout the proceedings, Austin’s legal representative, Brendon Moorhouse, highlighted his client’s cooperation with authorities, noting that he had even admitted to more serious activity than initially disclosed. Moorhouse also described Austin as lacking in “joined-up thinking,” implying a degree of cognitive disorganization. Following the sentencing, Austin was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Sergeant Mike Parminter of Avon and Somerset’s Child Abuse Team (ICAT) commented on the case, emphasizing the vile nature of the images recovered. He issued a stern warning to online offenders, stating, “Online offenders who think their offending only happens in cyberspace should know they will face justice in the real world, as happened with this case today.” The case serves as a stark reminder that digital crimes involving child exploitation are taken seriously and prosecuted vigorously, regardless of whether the offending occurs solely online or in the physical world.