ANDREW KISS FROM MIDDLESBROUGH CAUGHT WITH OVER 10,000 CHILD PORN IMAGES

In a disturbing case heard at Teesside Crown Court, Andrew Kiss, a 40-year-old resident of Middlesbrough, was found to have accumulated an alarming collection of child pornography. The court was informed that Kiss had engaged in the creation and possession of indecent images and videos depicting children, with these materials being downloaded onto his computer over a period spanning from September 1999 to September of the following year.

Prosecutor Patricia Mancina detailed the extent of the material seized from Kiss’s residence. When police officers executed a search warrant, they initially discovered printed copies of some of the content, which had been produced from his computer. Further investigation revealed that among the 190 floppy disks confiscated from his home, 56 contained explicit images or video clips involving minors. The authorities estimated that Kiss’s collection comprised over 10,000 still images and approximately 900 video clips, highlighting the sheer scale of his possession.

During the court proceedings, Stuart Graham, representing Kiss, emphasized that his client had not shared these images with others, either for personal gratification or financial profit. He acknowledged the profound personal consequences Kiss had faced, including the loss of his employment and his marriage, as a direct result of his actions. Graham explained that Kiss’s behavior was driven by curiosity, which he recognized as problematic. The defense attorney stated, “Curiosity was what caused these problems for him. He does have a problem and he recognises that. He has lost everything because of this.”

Graham further pointed out that Kiss was aware of the harm caused to children, noting that there was a “market” for such material, which underscored the seriousness of his offending. Despite the lack of direct victim contact, the court was told that the existence of a commercial demand for such images contributed to the ongoing harm.

In sentencing, Judge Les Spittle opted for a rehabilitative approach, imposing a three-year community rehabilitation order as an alternative to immediate imprisonment. The judge also mandated that Kiss participate in a sex offenders’ program and ordered regular reports on his progress every six months. Additionally, Kiss was placed on the sex offenders register for a period of five years. Judge Spittle remarked that Kiss exhibited an “obsessive” personality, which likely contributed to his behavior, and emphasized the importance of monitoring his rehabilitation moving forward.