August 2016 South Shields teenager caught with horrific haul of child abuse images A teenager who downloaded a sickening stash of child sexual abuse images has been told only his age prevented him from being locked up. Jordan McDonald was found in possession of a horrific haul of sexually graphic pictures after police were tipped off that he had visited a vile image sharing website and swooped on his home. The 18-year-old had 98 indecent images stored on his computer – 20 of which were at the most serious category A level, showing sexual activity. He was 17 at the time the offences took place, magistrates in South Tyneside were told. McDonald, of Barbour Avenue, South Shields, admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of a child on or before June 28 of last year at an earlier hearing. He was ordered to complete a sexual offender treatment programme by a judge and must notify police of his whereabouts for the next five years. District Judge Roger Elsey told McDonald that his crimes were ‘very serious’ as each involved the ‘abuse of a child’ and warned him that he would be put behind bars if he commits a similar offence in the future. The court heard that McDonald was snared when police received information from a online child protection agency. David Carmichael, prosecuting, said; “Police received information from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Agency that an IP address had been used on February 27 of last year by a member of a website or forum used for the sharing of indecent images of children, including Category A images. The IP address was linked to an address in Barbour Avenue and a search warrant was executed on June 28. “A search was carried out and a computer and telephone were seized. Indecent images from Category A to C were found on a computer seized from McDonald’s bedroom.” District Judge Roger Elsey told McDonald; “You perhaps do not understand or have insight into the reason why they are so serious but each image involves the abuse of a child. “If you had been an adult when these offences were carried out you would be going to prison. McDonald was given a three-year community order, including 56 days of rehabilitation activities and must complete a sexual offenders treatment programme. He must also pay £80 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.