TORQUAY MAN AVOIDS PRISON AFTER SHARING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A judge has singled out a messaging app as the 'preferred option' for paedophiles sharing sick images of child abuse.Kik Messenger was one of the platforms used by Connor Jordan to distribute indecent images of children, a court heard.
Jordan, from Torquay, admitted seven offences of possessing (by downloading) and distributing images.
Many showed the worst kind of abuse of very young children.
He faced prison when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court for sentence on Thursday but was spared and given a community order, partly due to the case taking three and a half years to resolve.
Prosecutor Thomas Faulkner said police found 404 indecent images in the highest category of abuse.
He mentioned Jordan used Kik and Telegram to distribute images to others.
Judge Stephen Climie noted that although Kik did not encourage such use, it has become a preferred social media site for this type of communication.
Mr.
Faulkner also stated that Telegram was regularly used by Jordan.
The delay in bringing the case to court was caused by long queues in the forensic system for such offences.
Defender Martin Salloway described Jordan as a carer with mental health issues and presented testimonials of his good character.
Jordan, of Audley Avenue, received a community order with 25 rehabilitation days, a two-month curfew, and 200 hours of unpaid work.
