MACCLESFIELD MENTAL HEALTH WORKER CAUGHT WITH VILE CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
A man named Anthony James Mape, working as a mental health worker in Macclesfield, was involved in possessing and downloading numerous child abuse images.Mape, aged 31 and residing in Upton Way, Handforth, Cheshire, admitted to downloading a total of 848 indecent images and videos over a period of five years.
He ran from Chester Crown Court after being handed a suspended sentence for his crimes, which included highly disturbing images described as ‘utterly revolting’ by the judge.
The court heard that Mape initially denied searching for such images but later pleaded guilty to four counts of downloading and possessing images categorized as A, B, and C.
Prosecutor Chris Hopkins explained that Mape used file-sharing software to obtain these images, initially claiming he was searching for adult pornography and not child images, but he later accepted that he had images of children and derived sexual pleasure from them.
Police confiscated three hard drives from him in December 2016, which are now set to be destroyed.
The court described the images as ‘dreadful abuse of children’ and sentenced Mape to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.
He is also required to undertake a sexual treatment programme, complete a 20-day sexual rehabilitation requirement, and register as a sex offender for the next 10 years.
Mape expressed remorse and stated he has begun researching the reasons for his actions, indicating an intent to seek rehabilitation.
However, the judge condemned his actions, stating: ‘You searched for, and downloaded, images for your own personal pleasure.
You are a pervert,’ emphasizing the severity and moral depravity of his crimes.
His legal team argued that he is a highly educated man seeking to further his understanding and rehabilitation, acknowledging the ‘dark’ and ‘utterly revolting’ nature of the images and condemning his actions as a severe abuse of children that is driven by a market for such material.
