Tamworth naturist brought before court with thousands of indecent child images
A NATURIST from Tamworth who downloaded thousands of indecent images of children from the internet has been ordered to undergo sex offender treatment.
Police found nearly 117,000 pictures of children on a laptop and a desktop computer belonging to Ian Taylor.
Most of them were “innocent” photographs taken in a naturist setting, but amongst them were over 12,000 that were criminally indecent, Stafford Crown Court heard.
Laura Culley, prosecuting, said a total of 95 were of the most serious category A and more than 400 in category B.
The indecent material was found following a search raid on Taylor’s Wigginton Road home on December 7.
When questioned, the defendant said he was a naturist and he enjoyed pictures of naked children, but not ones that were pornographic.
Whilst looking for naturist images, he had come across the others and he denied any sexual interest in children.
The 59-year-old who admitted six charges of making indecent images of children, was given a three year community order with sex offender treatment and told to pay £400 costs.
Judge Mark Eades told him: “Your pre-sentence report takes a very sceptical view of your explanation for access to these photographs.
“That’s a reasonable view considering the quantity of photographs in your possession.” Ben Williams, defending, said: “The vast majority of the images weren’t at all indecent and perhaps were innocent.
“The more explicit images he would have encountered when looking for adult pornography.”
Mr Williams added that whilst Taylor earned a good salary, he had to make significant contributions to his legal aid.
“He is already £5,000 out of pocket as a result of these proceedings.
