SNODLAND MAN JAMIE NICHOLS SENTENCED FOR ONLINE CHILD ABUSE CONTENT

In March 2014, Jamie Nichols, a 21-year-old resident of Lee Road, Snodland, received a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years after admitting to five charges of creating indecent images of a child and one charge of possessing such images.

He will be under supervision for two years and must attend a sex offenders’ programme.

Prosecutor John Fitzgerald stated that Nichols was forthcoming with police once his computer equipment was seized, revealing over 100 disturbing images ranging from levels one to four.

When he was 19, Nichols participated in various online chatrooms where he discussed child abuse; during this time, he was sent both still images and videos.

"He encouraged female teenagers to expose themselves," Mr. Fitzgerald explained.

Maidstone Crown Court learned that Nichols had left school with GCSEs and was pursuing a university course, though he did not complete it.

Judge Byers addressed Nichols directly, saying: "You must understand that in order to produce this type of photograph that you had stored on your computer, real children have to be abused.

"If there were not people prepared to access the internet in the way you did, then some children at least might escape such humiliation and degradation.

"In addition to that, you were engaging in chatroom conversations with others, encouraging them to do things they should not normally be doing at that age."

The judge also noted, "I have to ask myself whether it is in the public interest that you serve a three-month sentence for this, or that you be educated through a suggested course."

He concluded, "I am prepared to take that risk with you because of your age and guilty pleas."

A sexual offences prevention order was imposed, and Nichols will be on the sex offenders’ register for five years.