SEAN RICHARDSON OF MALVERN ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES

In April 2015, a man from Malvern named Sean Richardson avoided imprisonment after being found in possession of a large collection of child sex abuse images and videos spanning a decade.

Richardson, residing on Lansdowne Road, was found with nearly 200 images downloaded between 2004 and 2014. Approximately 80 of these were classified as Category A, including videos depicting children being sexually assaulted.

The 49-year-old, who previously worked as a technician in the town, reportedly attempted to take his own life due to an addiction to the material. While under medical care, he admitted to medical staff that he had been using such content, which he said ‘stimulated and aroused’ him, as reported in court last Friday (April 17).

During proceedings, Richardson told police he was aware his actions were wrong. He acknowledged that most of the children involved appeared to be around eight years old, with some videos involving toddlers, the court was told.

Although the usual sentence for such offenses might be a 12-month jail term, His Honour Judge Michael Cullum chose not to send Richardson to prison. Instead, he sentenced him to a three-year community order under supervision, requiring him to complete a community sexual offending programme.

Judge Cullum emphasized the seriousness of the crimes, stating, “These are not victimless offences. You had secured yourself in a world of electronic activity which no doubt depressed you from reality. The reality of what is in these images are children being sexually assaulted and those children’s lives being ruined and that is your responsibility and for your self-gratification.”

He went on to say, “That is the seriousness of these offences and without the consumer there would not be this vile market. It is once you tried to take your own life as an addiction to this sort of material you self-reported and brought yourself to court. You now have a criminal conviction and your feelings are known.”

Richardson was also ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and to comply with a ten-year sexual harm prevention order that restricts his access to the internet.

In sentencing, Judge Cullum remarked, “I am satisfied there is a requirement here to protect the public from further serious sexual harm. Of course, if you re-offend or choose not to attend the prescribed group, you will face custody at your next court appearance, which was imminent.”

Additionally, Richardson was instructed to pay court costs of £350.