May 2021

Women convicted of child cruelty offences

April 2021

Man built sick library of ‘Manga-style boys’ for his own pleasure

A 70-year-old man who downloaded indecent images and cartoons of children told police he did not know the cartoons were “illegal”.

Graeme Spink pleaded guilty at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on April 12 to three offences of possessing indecent pseudo-photographs of children and one offence of possession of prohibited images of children.

Prosecutors at Plymouth Crown Court explained how on August 12, 2019 the police, acting on information they had received, executed a search warrant at Spink’s home in Cardinal Avenue, St Budeaux.

On arrest, Spink told police “I’ve downloaded indecent images from Shotacon which was of young boys in cartoons. I didn’t know cartoons were illegal.”

Shota is a Japanese slang term used in manga and anime fandoms to indicate sex involving an underage boy.

Investigators examined 13 devices, including hard drives, tablets and various other computer equipment, plus a Nokia mobile phone. The phone was the only item which was “successfully downloaded and examined” by police. On it officers found images and videos of children, aged 10 to 16 years of age.

The court heard officers found 115 files, including eight videos of category A – the most severe category which in legal description includes images “involving penetrative sexual activity” and “images involving sexual activity with an animal or sadism”.

Officers also found a further 224 files, including four videos of category B and 198 category C files and 1,102 cartoons. The prosecutor requested Spink be made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and noted he had now been placed on the Sex Offender’s Register.

Spink was made subject of a two year community order and to complete 35 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. He ordered Spink to pay £425 costs towards the court and a victim surcharge of £90.

Spink was also made subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

April 2021

Pensioner gets suspended sentence for ‘unspeakable abuse images’

A grandfather who downloaded ‘unspeakable’ child abuse images has been given a suspended jail sentence. 

Raymond Parsons was sent images and videos which included the serious abuse of a young baby by other internet users who he spoke to in chat rooms. 

He was traced to his home in Holsworthy by police through his IP address after it was discovered that others were sharing material with him. 

Parsons, aged 76, of Coles Mill Close, Holsworthy, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children and was jailed for eight months, suspended for 18 months by Judge David Evans at Exeter Crown Court. 

He was also ordered to do 12 days of rehabilitation activities, pay £400 costs and sign on the sex offenders’ register. 

Miss Holly Gilbery, prosecuting, said police discovered that images were being shared and raided Parsons’ home in November 2019, seizing a USB stick, a desktop and an iPad. 

Experts found 26 images or videos at category A, which showed children suffering serious abuse by adults, and 50 in the two lower categories. 

He told police he contacted other people through messaging apps and they had sent him the material. He said he knew it was illegal and morally wrong but it gave him a thrill. 

June 2016

Horrific sex offender fails in bid to have jail sentence cut by Court of Appeal

A pensioner who was told he might die in prison after he was jailed for a string of horrific sex offences has failed in a bid for a cut in his sentence.

David Atkins, 77, abused the 11-year-old girl after befriending her while living in Leicester more than 40 years ago.

He claimed the allegations were made up, but was convicted of four indecent assaults and another serious sex attack.

He was jailed for 11 years at Leicester Crown Court in April last year.

Yesterday, his case was back in court as his lawyers launched a Court of Appeal bid for a shorter sentence.

But it took Mrs Justice Elisabeth Laing, Lord Justice Simon and Judge Clement Goldstone QC less than an hour to reject Atkins’ appeal.

Mrs Justice Laing dismissed a challenge to the most serious conviction and said the total sentence which he received was fully justified.

Appearing via a video link from prison, Atkins slumped in his seat and bowed and shook his head as the court’s judgment was announced.

Ruling on the case, Mrs Justice Laing said the offences against the girl had taken place decades ago.

However, she did not come forward with the allegations until 2013.

Atkins, of Furzehill, Sidbury, Sidmouth, was interviewed and claimed all of the woman’s claims were untrue.

He was convicted by a jury in February last year.

But he argued on appeal that his trial relating to the most serious charge was unfair.

The jury should have been allowed to convict him of a much less serious offence, his lawyers argued.

The total sentence he received was in any case far too long, they added.

He had since lived a law-abiding life and had been able to put forward 15 character references, the judges were told.

After rejecting his appeal against the conviction, Mrs Justice Laing said the total sentence was a fair one.

She said: “‘The judge was sentencing in this case for a course of abuse. He noted the effect that the offences had on the complainant.”

She added: “He took into account Atkins’ age, the good life he had led since and all the references.

‘We don’t consider that the overall sentence of 11 years’ imprisonment was manifestly excessive.”