September 22, 2015 3.07 pm This story is over 107 months old

Lincoln man spared jail after downloading child porn images

No jail sentence: A man who downloaded child pornography from the internet has been spared jail at Lincoln Crown Court.
Lincoln Crown Court. Photo: The Lincolnite

A man who downloaded child pornography from the internet has escaped a jail sentence at Lincoln Crown Court.

Craig Marshall, 45, was arrested after police raided his home in Lincoln in July 2014 following information officers received that he had been accessing illegal material on his computer.

Caroline Bradley, prosecuting, said that when computers seized from the house were investigated, officers discovered both still and moving film indecent images of young children.

They also found films featuring sickening scenes of bestiality.

Marshall claimed that while downloading a movie he became bored and decided to see how easy it was to access indecent images of children.

Miss Bradley said that 30 bestiality films were found on the computer equipment along with a total of 169 indecent images of children, the majority of which were in the lowest category of seriousness.

Marshall, of Larne Road, Lincoln, pleaded guilty to five charges of making indecent photographs of a child on dates between December 2012 and July 2014.

He also pleaded guilty to a further charge of possession of extreme pornography.

He was given a three year community order with three years supervision and a condition to complete an internet sex offender treatment programme.

Marshall was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Recorder Paul Mann QC, passing sentence, said that sentencing guidelines meant that Marshall would only serve a very short time in custody if he were jailed and would receive no help to reduce his risk of committing further offences.

The Recorder told Marshall: “I’m going to give you a chance. You won’t get another, it is important that you take this opportunity and make the most of it.

“Should you lapse and go back to viewing unlawful material again then you will go to prison I can promise you that.”

Neil Sands, defending, said Marshall had no previous convictions and made admissions when he was interviewed by police officers.

“He has co-operated throughout with the police. This is a man who accepts he has problems.”