Pensioner had ‘vile’ indecent images of children on his computer


Barry Hammond, 66, was told images found on his computer were “of the worst kind” after admitting five offences at Grimsby Crown Court
Police found “vile” images of children after searching a pensioner’s computer equipment.
More than 100 indecent images of children were found when equipment belonging to Barry Hammond was examined, a court heard.
Hammond, 66, formerly of Chapel Road, Brigg , admitted distributing an indecent image of a child, three offences of possessing images and another of possessing a prohibited image between May 2015 and February 2016.
Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that police received information and searched Hammond’s then home in June last year.
On his computer equipment were a total of 111 indecent images of children.
They included images of sexual abuse of a baby and others of girls aged seven to eight in sexual activity.
Another image involved a five-year-old boy and a teenage girl.
Hammond had sent messages which included a link to another image.
Ian Haywood, mitigating, told the court that Hammond had no previous convictions and had tried to find help for his problems and alcohol misuse.
“He was extremely upfront from the moment he was arrested,” said Mr Haywood.
“He has shown remorse for what he has done.”
There was no suggestion that he had repeated the behaviour.
Hammond’s wife was “very disappointed” in what he had done but she was standing by him and they had moved to a new area.
Recorder Bernard Gateshill told Hammond: “You indulged in the vile practice of viewing and storing images of children being sexually abused and did so for your own sexual satisfaction.”
The images were “of the worst kind”.
Hammond, now of Church Laneham, near Retford, was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence and 35 days’ rehabilitation.
He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.