BENJAMIN MARLEY TOOGOOD SENTENCED IN RYDE FOR DISTURBING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE

A 25-year-old man from Quarry Road, Ryde, has been handed a suspended prison sentence after being found in possession of highly disturbing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Benjamin Marley Toogood faced charges related to the possession of indecent images of children, with the offences spanning from May 2017 up until September 19 of the current year.

Although Toogood did not create or distribute the illicit material, police discovered these images stored on his personal devices during a routine investigation. The material included a total of 156 images categorized into three levels of severity: 31 Category A images, which involved videos of children being raped, along with 76 Category B images and 49 Category C images. The severity of the content was emphasized by prosecutors, highlighting the horrific nature of the material.

Prosecutor Simon Foster explained that Toogood’s interest in viewing these images reportedly began during a period when he was experiencing depression. His legal representative, Laura Deuxberry, pointed out that Toogood had made full admissions early in the investigation process. She also noted that he had suffered abuse as a child, a factor that added complexity to his case and was considered during sentencing.

The court described the images as 'horrific' and 'stomach churning,' emphasizing that some of the children depicted appeared to be as young as two or three years old. The severity of the offenses was acknowledged by Recorder Charles Langley, who presided over the case. Despite the gravity of the crimes, the judge decided to suspend the 10-month prison sentence for a period of two years. This decision was influenced by several mitigating factors, including Toogood’s demonstrated remorse, his early plea, his age, and his history of being abused by a family friend.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Toogood was ordered to participate in a sexual offending behavior program. He was also subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which aims to restrict his access to certain online content and prevent further offending. Furthermore, he was sentenced to complete 25 days of rehabilitation and 100 hours of unpaid community work. These measures are intended to address his behavior within the community, providing an alternative to immediate imprisonment and focusing on rehabilitation and risk management.