AUSTRALIAN MAN WITH AUTISM AND SEXUAL INTEREST IN CHILDREN, DAVID ROLAND JOSEPH, SENTENCED IN CORNWALL

David Roland Joseph, an autistic man with a troubling sexual interest in children, was found to have downloaded and possessed thousands of indecent images of children, some as young as one year old. The police from Devon and Cornwall were alerted when reports emerged of uploads of such images on the MegaNewZealand platform. Authorities traced the IP address to 47-year-old Joseph, who was subsequently visited at his home in Halgoss, Tehidy, near Camborne.

Following his arrest, Joseph admitted to police that he had a sexual obsession with children and had been masturbating while viewing the indecent images stored on his devices. Before forensic analysis of his computer, phone, and hard drive, he openly acknowledged these behaviors.

At a sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court on Thursday, May 1, it was revealed that police found nearly 3,000 indecent images of children on his seized devices, categorized across all three levels of severity. During the proceedings, Joseph pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children from January 2022 to April 2023, which included 1,571 Category A images or videos, 333 Category B, and 972 Category C.

His defense lawyer stated that Joseph struggled with learning difficulties and autism, and had maintained employment for 20 years, including a recent role at a local shop checkout. The lawyer emphasized that Joseph had admitted his offenses at the earliest opportunity and was considered a man of previous good character.

The lawyer also argued that due to his autism, incarceration would make Joseph particularly vulnerable, requesting that he serve any sentence within the community to receive necessary assistance. “He needs to receive help in the community not go to prison as it would achieve very little,” the lawyer said.

In response, Judge Simon Carr described the offenses as very serious, especially given the number of abusive images involving very young children.

Joseph was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, along with the requirement to complete 25 days of a rehabilitation program. Additionally, he was subject to a sexual harm prevention order with restrictions on internet access, valid for five years. He was also placed on the sex offenders register.