NOTTINGHAM MAN SENTENCED FOR VIEWING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AMID MENTAL HEALTH BREAKDOWN
A Nottingham sex offender named David James, aged 27 and residing on Parkdale Road, Bakersfield, was found to have viewed horrific child abuse images on his devices after suffering a mental health breakdown following a relationship breakup.He admitted to police that he had been searching for such material for approximately a year and was sexually aroused by images and videos depicting young females being raped and abused.
During the police investigation, nine electronic items were seized, containing 123 images categorized as child abuse.
The images included 32 of children aged two to eight years old (Category A), 52 of the same age range (Category B), and 34 of children aged four to 13 (Category C).
There were also five prohibited cartoon images of children aged 10 to 12.
Despite no prior convictions, James pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing prohibited images.
Nottingham Crown Court sentenced him to a three-year community order, which includes attending 30 rehabilitation sessions and a sex offender programme to explore the cause of his offending.
He was also issued a five-year sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for five years.
The judge, Stuart Rafferty KC, emphasized that James blamed his illness and mental health struggles for his actions, and stated: “You blame yourself but what you should do is blame your illness.
You were a good and worthy person and I have no doubt you can become that person again,” adding that his depression and substance abuse contributed to his offending and that he had shown remorse and sought help.
