December 2016

Longnor man downloaded indecent images of children

Dad-of-two Scott Gibbs has appeared in court after police found indecent images of children on his computer.

Officers went to the 27-year-old’s home in Longnor after receiving information he was downloading illegal material.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard his computer was seized and examined by police.

Prosecutor Philip Beardwell said: “It was found to contain two Category A images – the most serious category – and two Category B images.

“In interview the defendant admitted he had been involved in viewing such material. Search terms on his computer indicated an interest in child pornography.”

Married Gibbs, of Dove Ridge, Longnor, pleaded guilty to two charges of making indecent images of children. He has no previous convictions.

Judge Paul Glenn said any prison sentence he could impose would be so short it would not provide a chance to Gibbs’s issues to be addressed.

Instead, he handed Gibbs a three-year community order. He must complete the internet sexual offenders’ programme.

Judge Glenn said: “You are quite an intelligent man but you obviously gave no thought whatsoever to what these images involve. They are real children being abused for the entertainment of people like you.”

Gibbs will be barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults, and subject to notification requirements.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed which means Gibbs must not delete his internet search history and must make it available to police on request.