Military man prosecuted for indecent images of children

MILITARY MAN PROSECUTED FOR INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN

A military man will lose his job after he was prosecuted for downloading indecent photographs of children.

Since the offending, Smith has sought help and had treatment with the The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse.

He will lose his job and employment with the military.

His exact job title was not revealed as the details of the offences, which were unrelated to his work, were aired in a courtroom at Nottingham Crown Court.

Concerned police visited 31-year-old Smith's address after he made a comment in a chatroom to an undercover officer.

His phone and laptop were taken away for examination.

Of the indecent photographs found 19 were in category A - the most serious - 13 in category B and 21 in category C, as well as an extreme pornographic image.

Luc Chignell, mitigating, said: "He will lose his job and employment with the military." "His captain is present in the public gallery.

He has accommodation available outside the military." Judge Stuart Rafferty QC said Smith had not yet been diagnosed formally with PTSD "but it would be no surprise to anybody if that is what you suffer from".

"Your career, on behalf of your country, must inevitably be terminated," he told him in the dock.

Since the offending, Smith has sought help and had treatment with the The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse.

The judge told him "you have paid a heavy price for what you did" as he imposed a two-year community order and 30 rehabilitation days.

Smith must now sign the sex offenders' register and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.