NEWTON AYCLIFFE MAN LEE ATKINSON JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN NORTH EAST

In a serious case that has shocked the community of Newton Aycliffe, Lee Atkinson, also known locally as Lee Cook, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in possessing and creating indecent images of children. The incident came to light after police investigations uncovered a disturbing collection of illicit material stored on his electronic devices.

Lee Atkinson, a 31-year-old resident of Waskerley Walk in Newton Aycliffe, was found to have amassed a significant number of both still images and videos depicting young girls engaged in inappropriate acts. The material also included images involving bestiality, which added to the severity of his offenses. His activities led to his immediate dismissal from his job at an engineering firm, highlighting the impact of his criminal behavior on his professional life as well.

The case was brought before Durham Crown Court, where the police reports detailed the extent of the evidence against him. The authorities executed a raid on his home in March, during which they seized a laptop, additional computers, and multiple hard drives. The examination of these devices revealed a disturbing collection of illegal content.

Prosecutor Lynsey Colling outlined the findings, stating that the police discovered 307 indecent images of children, with the majority featuring young girls aged between four and thirteen. Alarmingly, 36 of these images were classified in the most serious category of child exploitation material. In addition to these, investigators found 52 images involving acts of bestiality, which are considered particularly heinous.

Beyond the illegal images, authorities also uncovered a vast collection of 13,306 still and moving images that, while not classified as illegal, indicated a troubling interest in young females. These included photographs of children in modelling poses, children dressed in school uniforms, and other images where the age of the subjects could not be definitively determined but appeared to be under 18. During police interviews, Atkinson claimed that his interest was driven by boredom, denying any sexual intent towards children.

He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making indecent images of a child, one count of possession of such material, and three counts of possessing extreme pornography. His defense argued that he was not motivated by a sexual interest but was instead thrill-seeking, fully aware that his actions were illegal. However, the court did not accept this explanation.

Judge Rodney Jameson, presiding over the case, sentenced Atkinson to 14 months in prison. Additionally, he imposed a sexual offences prevention order that restricts Atkinson’s access to computers and the internet for five years. The court also banned him from working with children and ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the potential risk to the community.