SHREWSBURY PERVERT SPARED JAIL DESPITE HORROR HOARD OF 6,800 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
Shropshire paedophile who amassed thousands of indecent images of children has escaped an immediate prison sentence, sparking outrage over yet another case in which a sex offender has walked free from court.Richard James Ward, 47, appeared before Shrewsbury Crown Court after police uncovered a vast collection of child abuse material on electronic devices seized during an investigation.
The court heard that officers discovered more than 6,800 indecent images and videos of children, including material falling within the most serious categories used by the courts when sentencing offenders.
Prosecutors outlined how the illegal files had been downloaded and stored over a prolonged period, with the collection running into the thousands.
Ward admitted offences relating to making indecent images of children — a charge commonly used when offenders download, save or access child abuse material online.
Sentencing the defendant, the judge made clear that these were not victimless crimes, stressing that every image represented the abuse of a real child and that demand for such material fuels further exploitation.
Despite the scale of the offending, Ward was spared an immediate custodial sentence.
Instead, he was handed a suspended prison sentence and will remain under strict monitoring.
He was also ordered to comply with requirements imposed by the court and will be subject to restrictions designed to protect the public.
Ward must also comply with notification requirements placed upon convicted sex offenders.
