March 2014: Now living in Bolton

March 2007

Already convicted paedophile spared jail for possession indecent images of children

ian cogle

A PERVERT who downloaded a haul of the most serious child abuse images has been spared jail – and won’t be getting any sex offender treatment either.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Ian Cogle, 48, who has served time for indecently assaulting a 10 year old girl, told police he was interested in young girls between the ages of 14 and 16 and thought he had a problem.

The probation service assessed he was at high risk of reoffending, whilst medics claimed it was a medium risk.

The defendant had more than 100 actual photographs of children being sexually abused or posing but did not see the youngsters as victims and did not see why he should change his behaviour.

Cogle was said to have used the internet while his partner was in bed at their Accrington home, the court was told.

His barrister urged the court to make a community order with the sex offenders’ programme if he was not sent to prison.

Cogle, of Persia Street, was given eight months custody, suspended for two years, with two years supervision and a five year Sex Offences Prevention Order He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register.

He admitted four counts of possessing indecent images of children, 47 of them at the most serious level and showing children taking part in sex acts with adults.

Sentencing, Judge Alistair Rumbelow, QC, told the defendant, whose live-in girlfriend was said to be reliant on him, it was clear the victims had been exploited but there was no evidence Cogle had distributed or swapped any images.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court police raided Cogle’s home last May and seized his computer equipment.

The defendant said the pictures he had viewed came up as pop-ups.

Miss Statham said in 1990 the defendant had been jailed for 15 months, for indecently assaulting a 10 year old girl. Cogle had 35 previous convictions.

Judith McCullough, defending, said Cogle knew his behaviour was unacceptable. He would take any help given to him.