March 2021 Grandad caught with child rape and dog sex images A grandad caught with child rape and dog sex images has walked free from court. John O’Brien had indecent images of children, featuring boys aged just three and girls as young as five. The 63-year-old also downloaded revolting extreme porn files showing bestiality with horses and canines. But the pervert was spared jail after a court heard of the “good elements to his character”, including treating injured soldiers in the first Gulf War and 25 years working for Liverpool Council. Liverpool Crown Court heard police raided O’Brien’s home in Brigadier Drive, West Derby on December 14, 2018. Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said O’Brien was present when officers struck just after midday and seized three laptops. They revealed Category A photos and videos – the most serious category showing child rape – involving girls aged five to 10. There were further Category B files, of boys aged just three or four, and girls as young as six. O’Brien also had Category C photos, showing girls aged 10 to 12, and 25 extreme porn images. He was interviewed by police and accepted using a peer-to-peer programme to download files. Mr Blasbery said: “He admitted seeing abuse images involving children but [said he] didn’t particularly seek this kind of material. Judge Smith handed him a two-year community order, with a 35-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and three-month home curfew, from 8pm to 8am daily. She told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and warned that if he breached any of the orders he would likely go to jail.