October 2016 Paedophile caught with 100’s of child sex abuse videos spared jail A paedophile found with hundreds of vile videos of child sex abuse has been spared jail because he wants to start a family. Warped Richard Arrowsmith faced five years in jail after thousands of sick images and 400 Category A videos – the worst kind possible – were found on his computer. But the 41-year-old was let-off with a suspended sentence after telling a judge he wanted to become a dad. Recorder Martin Butterworth told Arrowsmith: “These are not victimless crimes, they encourage serious abuse of sometimes very young children.” Yet he said he was taking into consideration his previous good character, the fact he has a wife who supports him and that he is in steady employment. Arrowsmith was arrested after police received a tip off in February that an IP address linked to his Sky account was used to download the depraved pictures. Officers executed a warrant at his home and seized a computer, external hard drive, laptop, mobile phone and USB sticks on April 19 this year. A court heard a police computerised scanning system flagged up at least 10,000 indecent images and videos on the devices. But a large number couldn’t be categorised due to the sheer amount of movies and pictures – including 4,336 videos and 137,000 images. Arrowsmith, of Church Gresley, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos of children when he appeared at Derby Crown Court today. But he was spared jail after a judge heard he was hoping to start a family with his wife who was still supporting him. Sentencing Arrowsmith to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, Recorder Butterworth, said: “You are 41-years-old, with no previous convictions and you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. “There are three charges against you in relation to the possession of indecent images of children. “I am taking into consideration your previous good character, you have a wife who supports you, a steady employment and your hopes to start a family in the near future. “These are not victimless crimes, they encourage serious abuse of sometimes very young children. “You were less than honest about the nature of the images.” Arrowsmith was ordered to pay £250 costs and carry out 160 hours of unpaid work as well as being made the subject of a curfew restricting him from leaving his house between 7pm and 5am. He is also banned from working with children and was ordered to sign the sexual offenders register. The court heard police found 400 videos in Category A, which is the worst, with another 255 films in Category B and 186 films and 851 images in Category C. Overall there were 1,692 movies and images ranging from Category A to C as well as the 4,336 videos and 137,000 images that remained uncategorised. After he was arrested Arrowsmith admitted to viewing and downloading indecent images of children for “four or so years”.