MAN WITH OVER 4,000 INDECENT IMAGES OF CHILDREN HANDED SUSPENDED SENTENCE
Police found a huge stash of more than 4,000 sickening images and videos of children that a man had collected and kept for his own "pleasure" spanning several years.By looking at the "disgusting filth" that was being produced, he was "just as responsible as those filming it" because it led to child abuse, Hull Crown Court heard.
Craig Empson, 36, of Kirklands Road, west Hull, admitted three offences of making indecent images of children between August 31, 2017 and April 2, 2024.
He also admitted possessing prohibited images of children.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that police went to Empson's home and arrested him on suspicion of having indecent images of children.
He made comments indicating his guilt and a mobile phone and a computer were seized.
There 1,218 images of children and 138 videos in the most serious Category A as well as 899 images and five videos in Category B and 1,104 images and one video in Category C.
There were also 448 prohibited images and 336 videos.
The total haul was 4,149.
During police interview, Empson admitted downloading the images and getting sexual gratification from them.
There was a high volume of images and he had attempted to conceal them.
He was frank with the probation service about his interest in young children.
Harold Bloomfield, mitigating, said that Empson would be barred from working with young people as part of a court order that would be made.
He was highly unlikely to come into contact with children during his daily life.
He had no previous convictions and was working, the court heard.
Judge Gurdial Singh told Empson: "Without the likes of you viewing this disgusting filth, children would not be abused to provide it.
You are just as responsible as those filming it.
"This is not a victimless crime.
You are directly responsible.
Without you viewing it, these children would not be abused for your pleasure.
"You made full admissions, not only as to what you had done but, more importantly, from my perspective, of your interest in indecent images of young children.
You could have no complaint if I sent you to prison, given the sheer number of images that were found." "However, that would do nothing to address the underlying cause for your criminality.
You appear to be willing to discuss your sexual offending.
There's every prospect of rehabilitation in this case.
That is the best way of protecting the public going forward as opposed to a short prison sentence.
Your likelihood of reoffending is low." Empson was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, 200 hours' unpaid work and 30 days' rehabilitation.
He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years.
He must pay a £140 victims' surcharge.
