KEITH GRIGGS FROM PLYMOUTH SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES IN PLYMOUTH
In a case that has shocked the local community of Plymouth, Keith Griggs, a 51-year-old man residing on Manor Street in the Stonehouse area, was brought before Plymouth Crown Court to face serious allegations related to the possession of indecent images of children.The court proceedings revealed that Griggs had accumulated more than 200 such images, which he intentionally stored on his mobile device, a fact that was brought to light after a carer inadvertently viewed the content on his phone.
It was disclosed during the hearing that Griggs had a prior caution for a similar offense back in 2010, indicating a troubling pattern of behavior.
The court was informed that the images found on his phone included a range of categories, with six images classified as Category A, representing the most severe form of abuse, depicting adults engaging in sexual acts with children.
Additionally, investigators uncovered 22 images in Category B, 207 in Category C, and 44 prohibited images, which were primarily cartoons depicting children in explicit scenarios.
Judge Paul Darlow presided over the case and, after considering the evidence and Griggs's guilty plea to four counts of possessing indecent images between September 2015 and June of the following year, sentenced him to a 12-month prison term.
However, the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning Griggs would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period.
As part of his sentence, he was also ordered to undertake 30 days of one-to-one probation supervision aimed at addressing his offending behavior.
Given Griggs's physical condition, including a leg in a brace and the use of a walking frame, he was permitted to sit in the well of the court rather than the traditional dock during the proceedings.
Furthermore, he was mandated to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, pay costs amounting to £250, and a victim surcharge of £100.
The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and judicial authorities in Plymouth to combat the possession and distribution of child abuse images, highlighting the serious consequences faced by offenders involved in such heinous crimes.
