BIRMINGHAM MAN, 22, MUST JOIN SEX OFFENDER'S REGISTER AFTER POLICE UNCOVER VILE PICTURE HAUL
A young man must now join the UK's sex offender's register after he was found with a disturbing haul of images, a court heard.Charlton Sutton-Hope had 127 indecent photos of children as young as four-years-old, and 173 more portraying intercourse with an animal, on his devices during a police search last July.
The 22-year-old, of Lytham Croft, Birmingham, is one of the younger offenders to be added to the database after admitting possession and distribution of the photos - including category A, the most severe type of child sex abuse material.
Appearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court this week, Sutton-Hope pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of a child, possession of an extreme pornographic image, possession of a prohibited image of a child and three counts of distributing indecent images of a child.
He was told he now faces prison, with a starting point of three years as his sentence was moved up to Birmingham Crown Court.
He was placed under strict bail conditions - including a ban on living or working with under 18s.
Prosecutor Ms.
Pogorzelska stated: "These matters refer to possession and distribution of images found in a search of his property, or rather, his devices.
It was carried out on intelligence on July 10, in total 72 category A images were found, five images in category B and 50 category C images." The prosecutor continued: "The starting point is three years [in custody] and therefore out of the power of Magistrates' court." Sutton-Hope had no previous convictions which was the only mitigating factor.
His lawyer requested the case be sent to the crown court for sentencing and asked for a pre-sentence report.
The hearing was adjourned for sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on May 19.
Until then, he cannot use a device where anything can be deleted and must display his full history.
He cannot use incognito mode or any VPN.
The prosecutor added: "He is not to have any employment which brings him into contact with anyone under the age of 18.
He's not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18 online." He is subject to those conditions until the next hearing.
Deputy District Judge Wallace warned: "You are subject to those conditions until the next hearing on May 19.
If you breach any of those conditions, you will find yourself in custody." He will be ordered to provide a pre-sentence report, which may suggest alternatives to prison.
"Given your age and early guilty plea, they may consider suspending that sentence.
From today you are subject to a sex offender notification requirement.
The length of that will be determined by the crown court." He must declare to police if he travels abroad or moves house.
"If he doesn't register then, he will be committing an offence.
Subject to that, he is free to go," concluded the judge.
