Stourbridge man caught with thousands of child porn pics avoids jail

Judge Amjad Nawaz at Wolverhampton Crown Court, told Christopher Stanley youngsters would not be exploited sexually if people like him did not take steps to view the pornographic images.

He said it was extremely serious offending but he ruled members of the public would be better served if Stanley received treatment to resolve his problems.

The Judge said Stanley had built up respect among his work colleagues and within the community but he had let himself down badly with his collection of child pornography.

He said: “The victims in this case are sadly children and the ages of some can be measured in months which is an aggravating feature.”

But he said he was able to avoid passing a jail sentence because there was no evidence of distribution and Stanley had recognised he had a problem and that he needed help and support.

Stanley, of Osmaston Road, Norton, admitted ten charges of making indecent images of children and another of possessing 165 prohibited images.

He was placed on Supervision for three years with a condition he attends the Sex Offenders Programme and told he must register as a Sex Offender for the next five years.

Mohammed Hafeez, prosecuting, said police received intelligence that child pornography had been downloaded at Stanley's address.

They went to the house and seized two computer towers and a laptop which were found to contain over 12,700 indecent images and films - all involving children under 13 years of age.

There were a large number of images at level four and some at level five which is the worst possible category, Mr Hafeez told the court.

Malcolm Fowler, defending Stanley, who sobbed in the dock, said he had gone through eight months of purgatory since the offences came to light.

He said Stanley was now faced with immense difficulties rebuilding his life and he had forfeited the job he had held for many years.

Mr Fowler added: "He has rendered himself a great deal of damage.”