October 2012

Pervert e-mailed vile images of children to other paedophiles

A PERVERT found with hundreds of indecent photographs of children as young as six e-mailed almost 1,000 images to other paedophiles.

Colin Atkinson had been involved in this underworld for a year before police discovered the material on computers at his Chaddesden home.

Jailing Atkinson for two years and four months at Derby Crown Court, Judge John Gosling said: “What makes this crime so serious is that you distributed something approaching 1,000 images, which included movies, with a significant number in a high category.

“You distributed these images to 36 people. It was a very active exchange by you.”

Alex Wolfson, prosecuting, said the 387 images, ranging from the lowest to the highest level of indecency, were found on three laptops. The court heard that there were 940 e-mails with images and movies attached.

The court was told that Atkinson had searched the internet for images of child abuse and some of the pictures he distributed involved children as young as six.

The 47-year-old admitted his guilt straight away after police searched his home in Shirley Road but he had to wait almost a year while the material was analysed before the case came to court.

In July this year, police sent out a media release after he went missing. It transpired that he had stolen £5,000 from his employer, Co-op in The Green, Breaston, and travelled abroad because he was worried about the impact of the charges he faced on those close to him.

However, after a week he contacted his family and returned to this country.

In August he was given a suspended sentence by magistrates after he admitted theft from his employer.

In his latest court case, Atkinson admitted charges of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children as well as possessing extreme pornography.

Dean Bower, in mitigation, said Atkinson had never gained financially from distributing the images. Atkinson told police he had done it “just to be part of the trade”.

“There is genuine remorse,” said Mr Bower.

“At the time of offending he was in denial to what this sort of pornography does to these victims.

“He thought himself, at the time, that they were virtual images and that they didn’t involve real people.

“But since he was arrested he has given a lot of thought to it and faced up to the psychological damage these people experience.”

Atkinson must sign the sex offenders’ register and obey a sexual offences prevention order, which includes allowing the police to inspect his internet use at any time, for 10 years.

He was also disqualified from working with children.