DAVID COTTINGTON FROM NYTHE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER VIEWING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN SWINDON AND NEARBY LOCATIONS

In a case that has once again highlighted the ongoing issue of child exploitation and the dangers posed by individuals with a history of offending, David Cottington, a 48-year-old lorry driver from Nythe, has been involved in multiple incidents related to the viewing and possession of indecent images of children. His criminal activities span several years, with authorities uncovering disturbing details about his behavior and the measures taken to monitor and control his actions.

Back in July 2019, Cottington was found to have accessed and viewed child abuse images on his electronic devices, despite being under strict legal restrictions. An evangelical Christian, he had previously served a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for molesting young girls and for viewing other illicit images of child abuse. His past convictions and subsequent legal restrictions did not deter him from returning to his harmful behaviors, as evidence later revealed.

Swindon Crown Court heard that Cottington, who is a father of four, was subject to a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) following his 2012 conviction in Sussex. This order explicitly prohibited him from deleting his browsing history or possessing a device capable of accessing the internet without police oversight. Despite these restrictions, authorities discovered that he had continued to access illegal content.

In October 2017, an unannounced visit was conducted at his residence in Liden, where his computers and devices were examined. During this inspection, an iPad Mini purchased earlier that June was scrutinized, revealing that its internet history only extended back ten days. The investigation uncovered that Cottington had been viewing both legal pornography and highly disturbing content, including a notorious Russian website known for hosting images of child abuse. He admitted to using incognito browsing modes to conceal his activity, which made tracking his online behavior more difficult.

Further questioning revealed that Cottington had visited the illegal website between 30 and 50 times, often on Friday and Saturday nights after work. He described the children depicted as being between four and sixteen years old, posing in provocative ways, although he denied viewing more severe material such as rape images. His comments included a disturbing remark, expressing disappointment that the images were of 'lesser quality,' indicating a troubling attitude towards the content he was viewing.

His breach of the sexual offences prevention order was formally admitted in court, with prosecutors emphasizing the seriousness of his continued access to illegal images. His defense team highlighted that Cottington had references from a Reverend and another pastor from his church, portraying him as an intelligent and complex individual. They argued that much of the evidence was based on his own admissions and that he had since managed to rebuild relationships within his church community.

Judge Jason Taylor QC expressed concern over Cottington’s ongoing risk to children but acknowledged that this risk could be managed within the community setting. The judge noted Cottington’s comments about the quality of the images, which further underscored his troubling mindset. As a result, he was sentenced to a 10-month jail term, suspended for two years. The court also ordered him to complete a sex offenders’ course, undertake 30 days of rehabilitation activities, and pay costs of £150.

In a related incident in June 2019, Cottington was again in the spotlight when he was found to have logged onto child sex abuse images on his iPad Mini. During police visits, he admitted to deleting his internet history and using private browsing modes, which he believed would conceal his activity. The police found his internet history was blank, and he confessed to visiting illegal sites, including those notorious for hosting child abuse images.

He was charged with breaching the terms of his sexual harm prevention order, which prohibited him from owning devices capable of internet access unless handed over to police. His defense argued that he purchased the iPad Mini for legitimate reasons, such as downloading films during his rest periods as a lorry driver. However, he acknowledged his mistake in using private browsing modes and quickly realized the wrongfulness of his actions.

Authorities confirmed that Cottington’s breach was a 'silly mistake,' but it underscored the ongoing risks associated with his case. He is scheduled to appear before Swindon Crown Court for sentencing on June 27, where further legal consequences are expected to follow. His case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilant monitoring and the persistent threat posed by individuals with a history of child exploitation.