SHAUN GARRON FROM TAMPWORTH SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN TAMPWORTH

In August 2014, a man from Tamworth named Shaun Garron was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of possessing and distributing child abuse images. Garron, who resided on Watling Street in Tamworth, had previously been convicted in 2009 for possessing DVDs containing indecent images of minors. Despite that earlier conviction and a community order imposed at that time, Garron’s actions persisted, leading to his latest prosecution.

In March of the previous year, authorities conducted a routine check to verify Garron’s compliance with his sex offence prevention measures. During this check, police discovered a troubling cache of 20 child pornography images stored on his iPhone. Further investigation revealed that Garron had also taken steps to conceal his activities by deleting his search history on the device, which constituted a breach of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Spratt detailed the severity of the images found, stating that six of them were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious acts of abuse against children. Additionally, there were two images categorized as B and twelve as C. Garron’s criminal conduct extended beyond mere possession; he had also distributed nine images, including two of Category A, to other men he had met through internet chat rooms. This distribution amplifies the harm caused, as it involves sharing and potentially further disseminating exploitative material.

Garron, aged 32 at the time, admitted to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent images, three counts of distributing such images, and breaching his SOPO. His lawyer, Mr. Michael Grey, explained that the images were downloaded during a period of personal hardship, roughly between August and September 2011, when Garron was feeling isolated and vulnerable. He was described as having been a once cheerful individual who, due to circumstances such as being ostracized at work and subjected to name-calling, had become reclusive. Mr. Grey emphasized that Garron had since ceased contact with online contacts, deleted the images from his phone, and taken steps to end this behavior.

Judge Michael Challinor addressed Garron directly during sentencing, stating that the 18-month prison term was intended both as a punishment and a deterrent. The judge underscored the importance of sending a clear message to the public that such offenses would result in imprisonment. He also highlighted the difficulty the public often faces in understanding why individuals caught with indecent images do not always go straight to prison. The judge explained that, in Garron’s case, community orders and sex offender programs had previously been deemed effective in reducing reoffending, which likely contributed to his earlier non-custodial sentence.

However, the judge pointed out that Garron’s continued downloading and distribution of child abuse images, even while under supervision, demonstrated a grave breach of trust and a serious risk to the community. The distribution of images, in particular, was emphasized as more damaging than possession alone, as it involves actively sharing harmful material with others. The sentence aimed to punish Garron, serve as a warning to others, and restore public confidence that sex offenders are held accountable for their actions.