SHAUN TURRELL FROM FELIXSTOWE AND HUNSTANTON ESCAPES JAIL BUT FACES STRICT CONDITIONS OVER CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Shaun Turrell, a man with connections to Felixstowe and Hunstanton, has been involved in the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, leading to multiple court hearings and sentencing considerations.

In April 2019, Turrell, aged 53 and residing in Felixstowe, was found by police to have downloaded a total of 117 indecent images on his mobile device. When questioned, he admitted to not only downloading these images but also sharing them with others via social media platforms. Prosecutor Lori Tucker detailed that during police interviews, Turrell confessed to an inability to resist the temptation to download such material, stating, "He said he had also sent child abuse images to other internet users via social media. He had sent these images in return for receiving others."

Turrell further explained that he had purchased his phone while on bail, expressing remorse and claiming that his actions had "sickened him" and that he was in need of help. He acknowledged the wrongfulness of his conduct, which took place between June 25 and August 9 of the previous year, while he was awaiting sentencing for similar offences. The court was informed that Turrell, formerly of Hunstanton, had a prior conviction in 2012, when he received a three-year community order for possession and distribution of indecent images. Additionally, on August 17 of the previous year, he was sentenced to ten months in jail for similar offences.

Judge Katharine Moore, presiding over the case at Norwich Crown Court, decided to impose an eight-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, considering Turrell’s apparent desire to seek help. The judge emphasized that the suspended sentence would include participation in a course aimed at addressing his behaviour. However, she issued a stern warning that if Turrell continued offending in this manner, his sentences would be significantly increased. Furthermore, she ordered that he be placed on the sex offender register for a period of seven years.

Representing Turrell, solicitor Isobel Ascherson, stated that he had been released from his previous ten-month sentence in January of that year and had not re-offended since. She highlighted his remorse and his request for assistance, noting that during a routine police visit, Turrell immediately admitted his actions when questioned about his mobile phone and internet use. Ascherson also revealed that Turrell was currently without stable accommodation, choosing not to sign a lease due to the ongoing issues related to his offences, which she described as a lack of motivation to settle down.

Earlier, in June 2012, Turrell, then aged 47 and living in Hunstanton, was found to possess over 3,000 indecent images of children, some depicting children as young as seven years old. Despite the severity of this discovery, he was spared jail time, with the court opting for a community order to allow him to seek help. Prosecutor Kevin Eastwick explained that Turrell had engaged with an online platform sharing such images, motivated by difficulty in making friends. When police seized his computer, they uncovered a total of 3,062 images.

At that time, Turrell was living with his parents in Hunstanton and expressed feelings of loneliness. He admitted to possession and distribution of the images. Judge Paul Downes, noting Turrell’s remorse and willingness to seek treatment, imposed a three-year community order with supervision and mandated attendance at an internet sex offender’s treatment program. The judge warned that Turrell narrowly avoided jail and cautioned that failure to cooperate with the court’s conditions would result in immediate imprisonment. Additionally, Turrell was placed on the sex offenders’ register and prohibited from working with children, reflecting the court’s concern over his actions and the potential risk to the community.