December 2014 Low Fell pensioner caught with more than 200,000 indecent images of children A pensioner caught with more than 200,000 indecent images of children has been spared jail. John Burns had amassed a vile library of pictures of young boys he had downloaded over a 14 -year period. The 69-year-old keen photographer had so many pictures and movies of youngsters, police were logistically unable to view them all. Sentencing him, Recorder Euan Duff said: “There are a distressingly large number of them, regrettably many thousands of them. “What I’m particularly impressed with in the pre sentence report is that now these matters have come to light you have begun to appreciate these are not victimless offences. Burns, of Oakwood Avenue, Low Fell, Gateshead, never in trouble before, pleaded guilty to nine specimen charges of making and possessing indecent images. He was given a three-year community order with supervision and must attend a sex offender treatment programme, sign the sex offender register for five years and was given a sexual offences prevention order. Burns, of Oakwood Avenue, Low Fell, Gateshead, never in trouble before, pleaded guilty to nine specimen charges of making and possessing indecent images. He was given a three-year community order with supervision and must attend a sex offender treatment programme, sign the sex offender register for five years and was given a sexual offences prevention order.   Burns, of Oakwood Avenue, Low Fell, Gateshead, never in trouble before, pleaded guilty to nine specimen charges of making and possessing indecent images. Burns, of Oakwood Avenue, Low Fell, Gateshead, never in trouble before, pleaded guilty to nine specimen charges of making and possessing indecent images. He was given a three-year community order with supervision and must attend a sex offender treatment programme, sign the sex offender register for five years and was given a sexual offences prevention order.       The judge said Burns deserved a suspended prison sentence but instead gave him a community order so he can get the treatment he needs.       Burns, of Oakwood Avenue, Low Fell, Gateshead, never in trouble before, pleaded guilty to nine specimen charges of making and possessing indecent images. He was given a three-year community order with supervision and must attend a sex offender treatment programme, sign the sex offender register for five years and was given a sexual offences prevention order. Burns, of Oakwood Avenue, Low Fell, Gateshead, never in trouble before, pleaded guilty to nine specimen charges of making and possessing indecent images. He was given a three-year community order with supervision and must attend a sex offender treatment programme, sign the sex offender register for five years and was given a sexual offences prevention order.