Marine engineer escaped jail

A WELL known marine engineer escaped jail although he was found to have 25,000 indecent images of children.

David Evans of Southam near Leamington Spa pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to three charges of making indecent images of children, with the 64 years old sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for two years, 180 hours of unpaid work and costs of £535, Alan Tilbury reports.

Sex offenders' register

He is also on the sex offender register for ten years, with Recorder Rebecca Herbert making him subject to a sexual harm prevention order restricting his use of internet-capable devices.

In November last year the police seized computers and other devices, on which a total of 24,948 indecent images of children, mostly pre-pubescent girls, were subsequently found.

But more seriously, there were 47 films and 136 stills classed as being category A. showing children being subjected to sex acts. Most of the images were category C, showing children in naked or indecent poses.

Admitted possessing the images

When questioned, Evans admitted possessing the images, but that they were ‘mostly teens, although some of the girls were younger.

Barrister Graeme Simpson, asked the judge to honour a pre-sentence report stating that Evans worked for a boat hire company so had to work weekends, but could carry out unpaid work on his days off during the week.

Sentencing Evans, Recorder Herbert told him:

Not a victimless offence

“These are real children who are being abused so you can engage in your fantasy. Make no mistake, what you have done is not a victimless offence. Young children are abused to feed the appetites of people like you.

“However, I must also take into account the mitigating features. You are now 64 and have never been in trouble before, let alone for anything of this type.”