RYAN SWEENEY FROM DARLINGTON AND NEWTON AYCLIFFE JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a serious case brought before Durham Crown Court, Ryan Sweeney, aged 36, was sentenced to prison after admitting to the possession and viewing of indecent images of children. The investigation revealed that Sweeney, a sheet metalworker, had been involved in this illicit activity over a span of three years, during which he downloaded, stored, and viewed a total of 336 images. Among these, 15 were classified in the most severe category, indicating the explicit nature of the material.

Authorities responded to a police visit to Sweeney’s residence on November 13, during which they confiscated his mobile phone and two computer devices. These devices contained the illicit images, which Sweeney had stored over the years. During police interviews, Sweeney fully admitted to his actions, openly acknowledging that he had a sexual attraction to teenage girls. His honesty was noted during the proceedings, but it did little to mitigate the severity of his crimes.

Prosecutor Chris Baker outlined the case, emphasizing that the evidence showed Sweeney’s progression from accessing adult pornography to seeking out material involving younger females. A probation report further detailed that Sweeney had considered his collection of images as “his dirty little secret,” but he had recently begun engaging in counseling sessions aimed at addressing his offending behavior and understanding the underlying issues.

Originally from Darlington, Sweeney now resides in Newton Aycliffe. His defense and the court acknowledged his full admissions, but the judge, Judge Prince, emphasized the gravity of the offense. He pointed out that some of the images depicted children as young as six years old. The judge stated, “I take the view there’s only a limited recognition of your sexual attraction and the most effective way of protecting the public will be for you to receive an immediate prison sentence.”

Consequently, Sweeney was sentenced to 12 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for a period of ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further offending.