CHRISTOPHER DYNE CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN KILLINGWORTH

In a case that has shocked the community of Killingworth, North Tyneside, Christopher Dyne, a 40-year-old software worker, was found guilty of possessing indecent images of children after a police search of his home on Sedgemoor, Garth 16, Killingworth. The incident occurred on the morning of August 3, 2018, when officers executed a search warrant and seized multiple electronic devices from Dyne's residence.

During the investigation, authorities uncovered three hard drives containing a disturbing collection of child abuse images. The files included a total of 85 images classified as Category A, which are considered the most serious, along with 16 Category B images and seven Category C images. Evidence also indicated that Dyne had conducted online searches related to child abuse material, raising further concerns about his intentions and activities.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Muir detailed the case in court, explaining that Dyne claimed the images appeared on his devices accidentally while he was downloading a Marvel film, specifically 'Thor.' He insisted that he had accessed these images unintentionally and had deleted them, asserting that he had considered reporting the matter to police but ultimately did not follow through. However, the evidence painted a different picture. The files containing the images were stored in distinct folders separate from the downloaded films, which contradicted Dyne's claim of accidental download. Moreover, there was no record of the 'Thor' film being downloaded at any point, casting doubt on his explanation.

Dyne also attempted to justify the presence of multiple copies of the images by claiming he had cloned his hard drives. Yet, he was unable to clarify why one of the drives contained additional material not found on the others. The court heard that Dyne had no previous criminal record, but he was nonetheless convicted of eight counts related to the possession of indecent images of children.

Following his conviction, Dyne was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for the same period, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offence within that timeframe. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 140 hours of unpaid community service. As part of his ongoing legal obligations, Dyne is required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the next ten years, ensuring strict monitoring of his activities and restrictions to protect the community from potential harm.