DAVID DAWSON, 73, AVOIDS JAIL DESPITE DISTURBING INDECENT IMAGE OFFENSES IN PLYMOUTH

In September 2017, a 73-year-old man from Plymouth, David Dawson, was convicted of possessing over 1,000 indecent images of children and extreme pornography involving a person and a dog. He received a suspended prison sentence despite the court acknowledging he failed to grasp the gravity of his actions.

Dawson, of Moor View, Keyham, pleaded guilty in Plymouth Crown Court to charges of possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornographic content. Prosecutors revealed that Dawson had been downloading such material for around ten years using eMule, a peer-to-peer file sharing application.

Court records showed that by August 2016, Dawson had amassed 1,367 Category A images—considered the most severe—including 1,219 images and 148 videos. Additionally, he possessed 81 Category B and 34 Category C images.

During the hearing, Dawson’s lawyer, Will Willden, highlighted his client’s age and generation as reasons why he found it challenging to be open in a probation report. However, Judge Ian Lawrie QC emphasized the seriousness of Dawson’s viewing habits, stating that what he was viewing was "appalling and he needs to confront it."

The judge acknowledged Dawson’s embarrassment but criticized his lack of empathy for the victims depicted in the images, questioning how Dawson could fail to recognize that these children had been harmed. He urged Dawson to consider his motives and why he kept looking at such images.

Examining Dawson’s claims that he hadn’t actively sought the images, Judge Lawrie pointed out that Dawson had obtained them via email and transferred them to a memory stick, indicating a level of deliberate activity.

While Dawson had no prior convictions and admitted guilt at the first opportunity, Judge Lawrie underscored that sending a 73-year-old to prison was a significant decision, yet one that was not taken lightly.

He noted that Dawson’s failure to explain what motivated his offenses did him no favors, adding, “You don’t appear to appreciate just how appalling this material is,” and that viewing it contributes to the ongoing suffering of victims.

The court ordered a 30-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, requiring Dawson to meet regularly with someone to confront and discuss his behavior. The judge stressed the importance of honesty during these sessions.

Despite Dawson’s wife sitting in the gallery and his otherwise “blameless life,” the judge warned that he must confront the unsettling aspects within himself. Dawson was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay costs (£340), a victim surcharge (£140), and to be on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. He will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

Judge Lawrie warned Dawson that any breach of the sentence or the community-based requirements would lead to immediate re-cognition and likely imprisonment, regardless of his age. He concluded by stating, “Until you address your problems, I think you pose a risk.”