DAVID CORNWELL FROM BURY ST EDMUNDS ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE CHARGES

In June 2013, a man from Bury St Edmunds, identified as David Cornwell, aged 64 and residing in Middle Green, Higham, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found guilty of possessing and making indecent images of children, along with possessing extreme pornographic material involving animals. The case was heard at Ipswich Crown Court, where the seriousness of his offenses was acknowledged by the presiding judge, Recorder Guy Ayers.

According to court records, Cornwell admitted to three counts of creating indecent images of children, two counts of possessing such images, and one count of possessing extreme pornography featuring animals. The images in question numbered over 3,000, with a detailed breakdown revealing 2,129 images at the lowest level of severity, classified as level one, 285 at level two, 765 at level three, 574 at level four, and nine at the most severe level five. These figures underscore the disturbing scale of his collection and the varying degrees of explicit content involved.

During sentencing, Recorder Ayers emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating, “These are not victimless crimes. Every time you click on these images, what you are looking at is a child that is being abused by someone.” Despite the severity of the charges, the judge decided against a custodial sentence, opting instead for a community-based punishment. Cornwell was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes mandatory participation in the Internet Sex Offenders’ Programme. Additionally, he was ordered to pay costs amounting to £500, and he is subject to a sexual offences prevention order. Furthermore, Cornwell is required to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of five years.

Prosecutor Robert Sadd provided further context, explaining the distribution of the images across different levels of severity, with the majority being at the lowest level, but still representing a grave violation. Defense attorney Charles Myatt highlighted that Cornwell has no prior convictions and asserted that he had not saved the images, suggesting a lack of previous criminal behavior and possibly mitigating factors in the court’s decision.

This case highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding the possession and distribution of child abuse images, and the judicial system’s approach to balancing punishment with treatment for offenders. The decision to impose a community order rather than jail reflects a focus on rehabilitation, though the court made it clear that such crimes are taken very seriously and carry significant legal consequences.