JAROSLAW TARASEWICZ FROM LANCASTER SPARED JAIL AFTER DOWNLOAD OF CHILD ABUSE IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Lancaster, Jaroslaw Tarasewicz, aged 28, narrowly avoided imprisonment after admitting to the possession and viewing of a significant number of indecent images involving children. The court proceedings revealed that Tarasewicz had downloaded a total of 1,210 such images, some depicting children as young as six years old, which he had subsequently deleted from his devices.

On September 24, officers from Lancashire Constabulary executed a search warrant at Tarasewicz’s residence in Lancaster. During the raid, they confiscated his computer equipment, which was later subjected to forensic analysis. Although Tarasewicz claimed he had not intentionally saved the images, the investigation uncovered evidence to the contrary. The forensic experts found that the images had been deleted, yet remnants remained, and internet search history included terms such as “paedo” and “pre-teen,” indicating his interest in such material.

Among the deleted content were several video clips, and the analysis confirmed the presence of 314 images classified as Category A, the most serious level of child abuse imagery. The court was informed that many of the children depicted appeared distressed and were resisting the abuse, highlighting the disturbing nature of the material Tarasewicz had viewed.

Tarasewicz faced three counts related to the creation and possession of indecent images: the 314 Category A images, 198 Category B images, and 698 Category C images. The court heard that at the time of the offences, Tarasewicz was living alone in Lancaster, working as a fabricator while awaiting his family’s move from Scotland. His wife and children had not yet joined him in Lancaster when he engaged in these activities.

During the sentencing, Preston Crown Court’s Judge Mark Brown emphasized the abhorrent nature of such images. He stated, “There is no doubt these sort of images are thoroughly disgusting and abhorrent. There is understandable public concern about anybody downloading this type of images to view them for sexual gratification. There is no doubt in my mind that this is what you were doing.”

The judge further explained that Tarasewicz’s offences occurred during a period when he was living alone in Lancaster, separate from his family, which added to the gravity of the case. He pointed out that the demand for such images fuels a market that perpetuates the abuse of children, asserting, “If there wasn’t a market for this trade, it is possible, indeed likely, that the children would not be abused at all.”

Despite the serious nature of the crimes, the judge acknowledged that Tarasewicz had deleted the images, and therefore, they would not be seen by others intentionally or accidentally. As a result, he sentenced Tarasewicz to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, with a requirement to undergo 20 days of rehabilitation. Additionally, Tarasewicz was subject to a sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements, aimed at monitoring and preventing any future offences.