NORTH EAST BUSINESSMAN WITH HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE VIDEOS TRIED TO STOP POLICE SEARCHING HOME
A North East paedophile businessman who was found in possession of horrific child abuse images attempted to stop police from searching his home.Darren Turner had a hoard of extreme pornography involving animals and sickening indecent images and videos on three laptops which involved babies and very young children.
But when police went to his County Durham home and told him his house would have to be searched, he ran back into his property and locked the door.
He then used his body to hold the front door shut.
When officers eventually arrested him, they examined three of his laptops and discovered thousands of disgusting images and videos.
A court heard that some of the material involved babies, with another involving a child as young as three-years-old.
On Tuesday, Turner appeared at Durham Crown Court to be sentenced for three counts of possession of indecent images, possession of a prohibited image, and possession of extreme pornography.
The 57-year-old had pleaded guilty.
The court heard that on December 22, 2024, police went to Turner's then home on Front Street, Pelton, County Durham.
They arrested him in an outbuilding and he asked if he could tell his partner that the incident involved an issue with a tenant.
As they escorted him out, police transmitted that the property would be searched, and Turner rushed inside the house, slammed the front door into an officer and used force to shut it, trying to lock it to prevent police from entering.
His partner saw him using his body and shouting 'get my laptop'.
Police eventually entered through a rear door and detained him.
The seized laptops contained 432 category A images, 198 videos, 453 category B images, 64 videos, 2,157 category C images, 23 videos, 20 images of extreme porn, and 46 prohibited images.
Some material involved 'months old babies' and a child aged between three and four, with words overlaid such as 'proud to be a paedophile'.
Defending, Christopher Knox stated Turner, currently of no fixed address, had no previous convictions and claimed the offences came during a period of 'internal confusion and anxiety'.
He highlighted Turner's successful business career and positive references from family.
Sentencing, Judge Richard Clews imposed 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Turner is also to undertake 30 days of rehabilitation, complete 200 hours of unpaid work, remain on the sex offenders' register for 10 years, and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order was issued.
