A SEXUAL fantasist who downloaded indecent pictures of children has been given the chance to become a ‘trustworthy and decent member of society’.
Nigel Evely, 58, of Teign View, Teignmouth, boasted in internet chat rooms that he had sex with children as he swapped indecent images with other perverts online.
The claims turned out to be false, but Evely admitted to police he did have a sexual interest in children.
At Exeter Crown Court he was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years after the judge said he was the ‘perfect candidate’ for a sexual offenders treatment programme.
Police said he had shown enough understanding of his crimes to be able to change his ways and that he could be safely monitored in the community.
He had previously admitted six counts of making and possessing indecent photographs of children and three of distributing photos.
The offences were found out after police raided his home on July 5 last year and examined two computers and CDs.
Prosecutor Nigel Wraith said Evely, who lived on his own, initially admitted searching for adult pornographic material online but eventually said he had also used it to find pre-teen images.
A forensic examination found 345 still images and four movies, said Mr Wraith.
These ranged from level one to level five on a scale where level five is the most serious.
The court was told Evely also accessed internet chat rooms via a picture-sharing facility which has since been closed down.
During one chat he sent five images and received 13 back.
Mr Wraith said the language used between the pair clearly showed a sexual interest in young children.
“It’s clear he knows what sort of age he’s looking at,” said Mr Wraith.
Evely would boast about his perverted interest, the court was told. But Mr Wraith said it was a product of his fantasies.
The court was told Evely was a man of good character with no previous convictions who had cooperated with police.
Mitigating, William Parkhill said the images were of a ‘dreadful nature’ but his client had not tried to minimise his crimes.
Judge Philip Wassall said Evely’s fantasies had been shocking ‘even for someone in my position to read’.
He said anyone appearing in his court charged with distributing indecent images of children would be sentenced to jail.
But he said where a defendant showed he wanted help and admitted his problems he could suspend the sentence.
“There is no point in sending you to prison for you come out in a few months and be essentially the same person.”
He said the treatment programme was intensive and would deal with the ‘frankly perverted sexual outlets’ he had been engaged in.
Judge Wassall told the court: “If he makes the best use of it he’s going to make himself a trustworthy and decent member of society.”
