DAVID SAUNDERS FROM FAKENHAM ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL

In August 2019, a man from near Fakenham, identified as David Saunders, narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found in possession of highly disturbing and illegal images depicting child abuse. The police investigation was triggered when they traced an online account under the pseudonym 'John Love' to Saunders, leading to a series of searches and seizures at his residence in Blenheim Road, Sculthorpe.

Authorities discovered that Saunders had posted an indecent image on the Kik Messenger platform in February of that year. The associated mobile phone number linked to the account was used as a lead to locate his home. During the raid, law enforcement officers confiscated three USB sticks, a Packard Bell computer tower, and a Motorola mobile phone. These devices contained hundreds of illicit images and videos, including some of the most extreme categories of child exploitation, with over 500 videos dating back to 2013.

Prosecutor Eleanor Sheerin explained that Saunders cooperated fully during police interviews, making candid admissions about his actions. Despite this, the court was presented with a disturbing collection of material, which Saunders himself described as 'disgusting' from the dock. The images included children of various ages, with some as young as three to four months old, and evidence suggested that Saunders had deliberately searched for extremely young children and material involving familial sexual abuse.

Judge Andrew Shaw addressed Saunders directly, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses. He described the case as 'particularly troubling' due to Saunders' deliberate searches on the dark web for such images. The judge acknowledged Saunders' honesty during the proceedings, stating that this was a positive aspect, but also underscored the importance of acknowledging the severity of the crimes. He explained that each image of child abuse represents a real child who was harmed, and that the existence of such material is driven by demand.

While the judge considered sending Saunders to prison, he ultimately decided that a community order would better serve the purpose of rehabilitation and public safety. Saunders, aged 44, pleaded guilty to making and possessing indecent images, including extreme pornography and prohibited material. The court found that he possessed 143 images and 502 videos classified as Category A, the most severe level of illegal content.

As part of his sentence, Saunders was given a three-year community order, which includes mandatory attendance at the Horizon project, a program aimed at preventing sexual harm. Additionally, he was subjected to a five-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered to complete 60 days of rehabilitation. Judge Shaw warned Saunders that any future offenses would result in a prison sentence lasting years, not months, and expressed hope that Saunders would seek help and succeed in overcoming his issues.