DAVID CROTON FROM EARLEY ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE OVER 6,000 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES FOUND

In a case that has shocked the community of Earley, David Croton, aged 65, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found in possession of an alarming collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light in July 2013 when police executed a raid on Croton’s residence located on Sutcliffe Avenue. During the operation, authorities confiscated two computers and two memory cards, which together contained a staggering total of 6,575 indecent images depicting minors.

Prosecutor Jane Davies outlined the disturbing nature of the material to the court, emphasizing that the images ranged from those of minimal severity to the most severe categories. She revealed that the collection included photographs of various boys and girls, some as young as four years old, highlighting the disturbing diversity and severity of the content. Among the seized items was a set of eight photographs taken at a nudist camp, which Croton had captured from inside his caravan. Croton claimed that these images were taken a decade earlier, adding a layer of complexity to the case.

Further analysis of Croton’s digital devices uncovered internet searches related to child abuse images, as well as a video in which Croton was seen performing a sexual act while viewing indecent images. This evidence painted a clear picture of his ongoing engagement with such material. It is noteworthy that Croton had a prior conviction in 2006, when he received a five-month prison sentence for possessing 12 indecent images, which included both downloaded pictures and photographs he had taken himself at a French nudist camp. He was subsequently removed from the sex offenders’ register four years prior to this latest case.

During the court proceedings, Croton’s defense attorney, Jonathan Coode, highlighted that his client had endured childhood abuse himself and had shown a willingness to undergo treatment. Coode also mentioned Croton’s health issues, including a broken back sustained in a car accident several years ago and a recent heart attack, suggesting these factors might influence his rehabilitation prospects.

However, Judge Peter Ross did not hold back in condemning Croton’s actions. He described Croton as an “entrenched paedophile” and emphasized the gravity of his obsession with child abuse images. The judge stated, “It is clear that you have an obsession with indecent images of children. A better way of describing those images is images of child abuse because that is what they are. The fact that they may be viewed by you on a computer screen does not lessen the fact that somewhere in the world, in order to create this material to turn people like you on, a child will have been abused. It is a vile trade and if it wasn’t for people like you then it would not be happening.”

Ultimately, Croton was sentenced to a 15-month prison term, which was suspended for two years, with all counts running concurrently. Additionally, he was ordered to participate in a sex offenders’ treatment program, placed under a two-year supervision order, and subjected to a sexual offences prevention order with no specified end date. As part of his legal obligations, Croton was also required to sign the sex offenders’ register, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.