September 2016 Man who admitted having indecent images of children was told his illness no excuse A man who admitted making indecent photographs of children and possessing “extreme pornographic images” was told his behaviour would “not be tolerated”. Edward Miller, of Hotham Place, Stonehouse appeared at Plymouth Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to one count of possessing 253 indecent images of children and one count of possessing around 20 extreme pornographic images. Prosecutor Nigel Wraith told the court how Miller, aged 58, was arrested after police executed a warrant at his property and seized a number of electronic devices. He said they also examined chat logs where Miller had made out he was other people, posing sometimes as a single woman and other times as a mother. Officers also found search terms including PTHC, which is considered a common acronym for ‘Pre-teen hard core’. During police interview Miller claimed these searches were for “research purposes”. During an exchange between Miller’s advocate Nick Lewin and Judge Ian Lawrie QC regarding the Probation Service’s report, Judge Lawrie noted he gave an “extremely sceptical view” of some of Miller’s answers. Mr Lewin said the report noted issues relating to Miller’s son and Miller’s own diagnosis for a failing kidney and how he was currently on dialysis. He said Miller had been in counselling for 12 months, first paid for by his employers and then out of his own pocket. He also noted how Miller was previously a man of good character. Judge Lawrie suggested that whatever “travails” Miller was enduring at the time of his offending, “I can’t see the linkage to look at those kind of images”. He said Miller accessed indecent images of children “premises on the exploitation and abuse of children. This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated”. He added: “You are an intelligent man. You knew what you were doing. You do it for your own particular kicks”. Judge Lawrie made Miller subject of a two year community order with a two year supervision requirement. He ordered him to pay the £1,200 court costs, be subject of a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.