Clacton man kept thousands of child abuse images, court told

CLACTON MAN KEPT THOUSANDS OF CHILD ABUSE IMAGES, COURT TOLD

A paedophile who kept more than 3,000 indecent images of children will be sentenced before a Crown Court judge.

Alan Spoor, 62, kept the photographs on eight devices which were seized by officers when police carried out a search warrant on his address in November 2023.

Celestia John-Baptiste, prosecuting, said Spoor told officers he collected the pictures because “he was bored”, Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard.

Spoor, of Colne Road, Clacton, admitted three charges of making indecent images of children, including 807 category A images, 328 category B images, and 2,199 category C images.

Keeping category A images is a serious offence because the pictures depict child abuse or sexual violence inflicted on underage victims.

Spoor also admitted possessing two extreme pornographic images and a prohibited image of a child.

Caroline Woodley, mitigating, said Spoor has no previous convictions.

Bench chair Lucy Lavender told Spoor the case will be transferred to Ipswich Crown Court because magistrates could not pass a sentence long enough to punish Spoor for his offending.

Spoor will be subject to notification requirements which mean he must keep a designated police officer aware of any changes to his personal circumstances between now and his sentencing date.

He will be sentenced in the first week of January.