AN IT worker who bought a new computer to surf for child porn just days after being arrested for similar matters has walked free from court.
Stephen Drewitt, of Thornford Drive, Westlea, was arrested in November 2004 after US investigators found he paid to access illicit sites.
But within a week the 34-year-old had a new machine and was doing it again, a judge at Swindon Crown Court was told.
Philip Warren, prosecuting, said: told the court that in 2003 Drewitt had paid for web sites with indecent images of boys.
In November 2004 police raided his home and seized his computer which contained 4,224 indecent photographs and 433 movies. As well as images of boys and girls aged between seven and 12 engaged in sex acts with adults they also found one of a baby aged between 12 and 18 months.
When questioned Drewitt admitted using credit cards to get access to the web sites but gave a false address.
Mr Warren said: “Less than a week after his arrest in November he had acquired a new computer and was at it again.”
Drewitt was arrested in June this year and officers found more indecent pictures on his new machine and movies on CD Rom.They also found a file titled “my defence statement” in which he was preparing matters to be submitted at court with successful mitigation from other cases.
Drewitt said he did not socialise much and had become addicted to internet child pornography.
He admitted 14 counts of making indecent images and two of possessing them.
Martin Wiggins, defending, said his client was full of shame for what he had done. He said if he were jailed it would be for a short period and he would get little help in addressing what he had done.
Since his second arrest he had told friends and family about his situation and resigned from his job.
Judge Charles Wade imposed a 51-week jail sentence suspended for two years and a two-year probation order with a condition Drewitt goes on a sex offenders’ course.
Drewitt will also have to register as a sex offender for five years and have his liberty restricted by a sex offenders’ prevention order.
