December 2013 Thrussington man jailed for downloading child abuse images Police found a collection of children’s underwear at the home of a man who had downloaded illegal images, a court heard. Paul Barlow (51) was jailed for eight months after admitting possessing nearly 1,000 indecent images of youngsters. He also pleaded guilty to possessing seven photographs of extreme pornography, involving bestiality. Barlow, of The Green, Thrussington, was arrested in February 2011. Police found the indecent images on his home computer and two laptops. Leicester Crown Court was told Barlow has since voluntarily sought professional guidance from the Lucy Faithful Foundation, which helps to rehabilitate child sex offenders. Alan Murphy, prosecuting, said: “When officers went to his home they also recovered envelopes containing children’s used underwear.” The indecent pictures recovered from his computers related to 926 images at level one, 26 images at level two, two images at level three and 13 images at level four. Of those, 20 were video clips. Mr Murphy said: “There was also evidence of e-mail requests by the defendant for children’s underwear to be sent to him. There was no attempt to contact children directly.” Sentencing, Recorder Marcus Tregiglas-Davey told Barlow: “The images feature young girls between 10 and 13. Deleted images were retrieved using specialist equipment. “It’s clear from the fact children’s underwear was recovered from your house, together with requests when corresponding with other adults, that you have a clear sexual interest in children.” Barlow was told he will have to enlist on a sex offender register for 10 years. He was also placed on a sexual offences prevention order, enabling his future computer to be monitored by the authorities. Justine Robinson, mitigating, said: “There were “very few” images at level four and none in the most serious category. She said: “He recognised he had a problem and has been on bail for two-and-a-half years, during which times there’s been no concern. He terminated his own internet connection more than a year ago “At the time he was isolated, he’d lost his business, turned to alcohol and had too much time on his hands.”