STANLEY MAN TOLD POLICE THE REPORT OF IMAGES WAS MADE 'OUT OF SPITE'
A man was detained after his partner discovered a 40-minute video depicting a boy being sexually abused on an old laptop and handed the footage over to authorities.The device also contained screenshots of Craig Shaw communicating with a minor online and sending explicit images to the child, despite being aware that the individual was under 16.
Shaw's former partner delivered the laptop to the police station, leading to his arrest on May 20.
He claimed to the police that he was unaware of the video and suggested that the report was made out of spite.
An investigation of the laptop revealed the presence of the category A indecent video, which lasted approximately 40 minutes.
Additionally, police found 24 screenshots showing Shaw in contact with a minor via an internet website.
Prosecutor Jordan Parkinson stated that Shaw, having been told the boy was under 16, sent him an explicit image of his genitals and asked for similar pictures in return.
Police estimate that some images depicted boys aged between 10 and 14.
During further questioning, Shaw admitted he was the male shown in the images.
The 34-year-old from Wylam Road, Stanley, pleaded guilty to charges of attempting sexual communication with a child and possessing three indecent images of minors.
Court records noted that Shaw had no prior convictions.
A judge sentenced him to ten months in prison, suspended for two years, with the condition that he completes 16 days of rehabilitation activities through the Probation Service.
He was also ordered to adhere to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and register as a sex offender for ten years.
The court informed Shaw that his name could be added to a list barring him from working with children and vulnerable adults.
