April 2005 Musician had child porn on computer JURORS have found a rock musician guilty of possessing more than 1,500 child pornography images. Matthew Paton, 34, was yesterday (Friday, 29 April) convicted of five charges of possessing incident photographs of a child at Chelmsford Crown Court. The jury cleared Paton on eight other charges of making an indecent photograph of a child between February and November 1999. Paton, of Farmadine Court, Saffron Walden, was sentenced to six months imprisonment and must remain on licence for a further period of two and a half years. He was also made to sign on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and an order was made disqualifying him from working with children. Judge Christopher Ball QC told Paton: “Having heard the evidence in the trial, I have no doubt whatsoever you were fully aware these images were in your possession.” “I have to make it plain to those who might be tempted to take a similar course that the public approach to this sort of conduct is one of abhorrence. It is criminal and will attract punishment.” The court heard the images were found following a raid at the defendant’s home in June 2003, when police seized and examined computer equipment and a rucksack containing floppy discs. Of the total of 1,505 images found in Paton’s possession, 205 were of the level one category, 147 were level two, 944 were level three, 196 were level four, and five were level five, the most serious category. Defence counsel John McGhee said at the time Paton’s personal life was chaotic and in a mess because of drug use and alcohol use. Due to his naivety his home was used as an “open house”. He was taking steps to put his life in order.