MARTIN BARTROP FROM RUNCORN SENTENCED FOR OBSCENE IMAGES IN CHESTER
A man identified as Martin Bartrop was caught with an extensive collection of disturbing images involving animals and children.Authorities discovered hundreds of graphic images of an extreme sexual nature featuring animals on electronic devices belonging to the 35-year-old, who resides in Runcorn.
Bartrop was charged with two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals, three counts of creating indecent images of children, and one count of possessing indecent images of children.
He pleaded guilty to all charges prior to sentencing in Chester Crown Court.
Prosecutor Mark Connor detailed the case, revealing that in January 2021, police confiscated a Dell computer and a mobile phone belonging to Bartrop.
Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of indecent images of children, with a total of 11 images found.
Of these, six were classified as category A, indicating the most severe cases involving child rape.
The remaining images included two categorized as category B and three as category C.
Further investigations uncovered 525 images of extreme pornography depicting sexual acts with animals, described as being portrayed in an "explicit and realistic way." These images were deemed "grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character" within the charges.
Additionally, a subsequent search revealed eight more disturbing images of this nature.
Before sentencing, Judge Steven Everett acknowledged that the case met the criteria for immediate custody but chose to suspend the prison term.
Bartrop, who has no fixed address but resides in Runcorn, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years.
The sentence includes participation in the Horizon sex offender rehabilitation programme for 35 days, as well as 35 days of other rehabilitation activities and 150 hours of unpaid community work.
Bartrop is also required to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years and must comply with a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.
The court authorized the confiscation and destruction of the Dell computer and mobile phone involved in the investigation.
