Man downloaded thousands of sick child abuse images



A man that downloaded thousands of images of child abuse has avoided prison
David Martin, 49, from Sidford, searched the internet for sick movies and pictures of children as young as four being subjected to horrific abuse.
He was given a suspended sentence by the judge at Exeter Crown Court after explaining he suffers with anxiety and depression and had tried to get help for his behaviour.
Police raided his home and found two laptops with more than 3,500 images and movies, more than 500 had also been deleted. Investigators stopped counting when the numbers reached the limit of the offence.
Prosecutor Ms Judith Constable said: “Had everything been examined the numbers would have been higher.”
The defendant had been searching using terms such as ‘Webcam young’.
Martin also had 758 images and nine movies showing adults having sex with animals
The defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing extreme images. The offences covered a period of more than four years.
Judge Peter Johnson said he was not imposing an immediate prison sentence because Martin had sought help voluntarily from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.
The defendant, of Stevens Close, was given a one year suspended sentence. He must do a sex offenders course as part of 30 days probation rehabilitation
He was also put on the sex offenders register for ten years and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Police will monitor his activies.