May 2017

Sex offender downloaded pictures of young girls

A sex offender told police he was “disgusted with himself” after nine years downloading pictures of young girls from the internet.

Robert Price, 26, said he accessed child abuse images online whenever the urge took him, Teesside Crown Court heard.

“He would obtain sexual gratification then delete the files,” said prosecutor Jenny Haigh today.

“He’d then feel awful and guilty. He would uninstall the software, but then he would repeat that.

“He suffers from depression. He did it when he was feeling down. He said he was disgusted with himself.”

Price confessed to this secret life when information led officers to his door on Siddington Walk, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough on January 23.

He immediately admitted he alone was responsible for the illegal web activity as his phone and computer were seized from the home he shared with his mother and brother.

He said he started looking at indecent images of girls around his age when he was about 16, and it continued for the next nine years.

Officers found 47 child abuse images of varying seriousness, most of girls aged eight to 11, with some of children as young as five or six.

Ms Haigh added: “There is a large number of different victims. Some of them were duplicates.

“It clearly has been going on for a long time but it hasn’t moved up any further.”

Price admitted three charges of making indecent images of children, his first conviction.

James Fenny, defending, said trouble came to Price’s door since his conviction was publicised, with bricks thrown through his windows, and he had lost his job.

He added: “He wants to put this behind him. He wants to move on. He has a very supportive family.”

Judge Deborah Sherwin said a suspended sentence would be more constructive than locking Price up.

He told the defendant: “This is the first time you’ve appeared before a court.

“This is a pattern of behaviour that had obviously gone on for many years before you were found out. You were immediately honest and took the blame for it.

“You accepted there was a problem that you need help with.

“It seems to me that, given the period of time you’d spend inside on a custodial sentence, there wouldn’t be very long for anybody to do any useful work with you and your various problems.

“I take the view that the community at large would be better served by the Probation Service working with you for a period of time.”

Price was given an eight-month jail term suspended for 18 months with supervision.

He was given a five-year sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

The judge said: “I would hope that the shock of all of this will be enough to make sure we never see you again.”

April 2017

Middlesbrough man, 25, admits making indecent images of children

A 25-year-old man has admitted making indecent images of children.

Robert David Price pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children.

Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard that the images included those classified in all three categories A, B and C, with 10 of them being still photographs, and four moving.

Price spoke only to confirm his name and enter his guilty plea at the hearing on Tuesday.

The case was committed to Teesside Crown Court, where Price, of Siddington Walk, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough, will be sentenced.

He was also referred to the Probation Service for a pre-sentence report to be compiled.

District Judge Kate Meek said: “My view is the case is too serious to be sentenced in this court.”