ADAM CUTHBERTSON FROM HUTTON CRANSWICK CAUGHT WITH 7000 DISGUSTING CHILD AND ANIMAL SEX IMAGES

In March 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving Adam Cuthbertson, a 29-year-old resident of Hutton Balk in Hutton Cranswick, East Yorkshire. Cuthbertson was found to be in possession of an alarming collection of indecent and obscene material, including approximately 7,000 drawings and illustrations depicting children in sexual acts, as well as videos featuring bestiality. This revelation came to light after police executed a search warrant at his residence on October 18, 2017.

During the raid, officers from Humberside Police seized two laptops and a hard drive, which were later examined and revealed a horrifying cache of digital content. The authorities confirmed that the material consisted of over 7,000 indecent images and 43 videos, all of which were classified as extremely graphic and disturbing. Prosecutors at Hull Crown Court clarified that the images were primarily drawings and computer-generated illustrations, rather than photographs of real children. Among the content discovered were videos depicting sexual acts involving animals, categorized as 'extreme pornography.'

Prosecutor Philip Evans addressed the court, emphasizing the nature of the material: “These images were produced for sexual arousal. The illustrations showed acts of the most grossly, disgusting and obscene characteristics.” He further explained that the images had been accumulated over a decade, indicating that Cuthbertson, who was 26 at the time of his arrest, had been collecting such material since he was 16 years old.

Mr Evans also pointed out that, since the images were drawings and not photographs of actual children, no real children had been harmed in their creation. During police interviews, Cuthbertson admitted to viewing these images daily and developing a 'fascination' that had become an all-consuming obsession, significantly impacting his life. However, it was made clear that there was no evidence to suggest he had committed any contact offenses involving children.

The court heard that Cuthbertson’s fixation, particularly with a genre known as Hentai, posed a risk of desensitization to child abuse. Prosecutors stated, “It is the Crown’s position that this is not an acceptable alternative to paedophilia.”

In sentencing, Judge John Thackray acknowledged the possibility of rehabilitation and ordered Cuthbertson to serve a three-year community order. As part of his rehabilitation, he is required to attend the Horizon programme for 29 sessions and participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activity. The judge warned that failure to comply with these conditions or to prioritize his recovery could result in a return to court for sentencing, with a high likelihood of imprisonment.