CORSHAM MAN DANIEL GAISH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER DOWNLOADING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Corsham, Daniel Gaish, a 33-year-old resident of Hitherspring, was brought before Swindon Crown Court in connection with the possession and creation of indecent images of children. The proceedings revealed that Gaish had downloaded thousands of such images, a discovery that prompted a swift police investigation and subsequent legal action.

Authorities were alerted to Gaish's activities through an international law enforcement network, Interpol. This led to his arrest at his Corsham home in March 2011. During the raid, police seized multiple computers and storage devices, which were later examined as part of the investigation. Prior to the analysis, Gaish was questioned by officers but chose to remain silent, making no comment to the questions posed to him.

Due to a backlog in the processing of digital evidence, Gaish was released on bail until December of the following year. When questioned again, he admitted to downloading the illicit material, explaining that he had initially been interested in normal pornography but had then progressed to images of children for his own gratification. Police investigations uncovered a disturbing collection of 2,560 indecent images of children, with 315 classified in the most severe categories, levels four and five.

Prosecutor Chris Smyth clarified that, although all the images had been deleted from Gaish's devices, 863 images at level one remained accessible and were still considered live. This detail was part of the court's consideration during the case. Gaish pleaded guilty to seven counts of making indecent images and one count of possessing such material.

Defense lawyer Simon Burns highlighted that since his client's arrest, Gaish had engaged in a course provided by the Lucy Faithful Foundation aimed at addressing his behavior. Burns also noted that Gaish was employed and in a relationship with a woman who was aware of his offending and continued to support him.

Judge Douglass Field, presiding over the case, acknowledged Gaish's otherwise commendable life, emphasizing his good education and work history. The judge pointed out that the offending had been limited in duration and that Gaish recognized the development of his problematic behavior. Recognizing Gaish as a suitable candidate for treatment, the judge decided that a community order was the appropriate sentence, rather than imprisonment.

As part of the community order, Gaish was instructed to attend an accredited sex offender treatment program for three years. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and could potentially be barred from working with children in the future. The court's decision aimed to balance the need for public protection with the possibility of rehabilitation for Gaish, who was deemed to have shown remorse and a willingness to address his conduct.