October 2014

Plymouth paedophile jailed again – and banned from using the internet when he comes out

A CONVICTED paedophile who accused police of planting indecent images of children on his computer and mobile phone was sent to prison today and banned from freely using the internet.

Brian Austin, 54, denied four counts of possession of indecent images and seven counts of distribution of indecent images after police confiscated two laptops and an iPhone from his flat in Devonport Road, Stoke, in March and July 2013.

But a jury at Plymouth Crown Court, made up of 10 women and two men, took just over an hour to find him guilty of all but one count yesterday (Wednesday Oct 29).

They recorded a not guilty verdict on one count of possession.

Recorder Andrew Langdon QC handed down a five-and-a-half year prison sentence and issued an indefinite sexual offences prevention order that stops him from using the internet without the ability for police to monitor.

“You have demonstrated that you have a continued perverted interest in underage boys and took the opportunity to view indecent images which you had on your computer and phone,” said Mr Recorder Langdon.

“You ran the defence that this was all a stitch-up, an account that the jury had little difficulty rejecting.”

He thanked the jury for considering evidence in what had been a “horrid case.”

The jury heard during the trial how Austin took part in three online conversations in February 2013, using the messaging service Kik, in which he sent indecent pictures of children ranging from level one to four.

Level five is the most serious category of indecency.

Austin, who told police during an interview after his arrest that he was sexually attracted to children, said it was not him that sent the photographs and alleged that police had planted the evidence.

The court heard on Tuesday that Austin had previously gone to jail for having sex with boys under the age of 16.

Detective Constable Sarah Rawlinson, lead investigator in the case, said she hoped this would deter future defendants from lying to try and get off similar charges.

“This was definitely the right verdict,” said Dc Rawlinson, speaking after the result.

“It sends a message to other people who are accused of having these kind of pictures on their computer and are thinking about making up excuses.

“The integrity of the police was called into question but the utmost care is taken with these kinds of exhibits to make sure nothing like what was alleged can happen.

“All the evidence is kept in serial number bags and those dealing with the exhibits have to sign to access them. That was shown during the evidence in court.”

Austin was given one-and-a-half years jail time for three counts of possession and two-years for five counts of distributing images, with the sentences running concurrently.

Mr Recorder Langdon gave him three-and-a-half years for two further counts of distributing “extreme” images, which will run consecutively to the above sentences.

The defendant was ordered to pay a £150 victim surcharge.