DARLINGTON MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
A man who leads an isolated life in his bedroom downloaded hours of footage showing children being raped and sexually abused.The victims of sexual abuse in the images and films that Ian Pawlett stored on his computer, were aged between six and fifteen.
In one video, a child appeared "unresponsive." On Friday, May 9, the 21-year-old, who struggles to leave his home, appeared at Teesside Crown Court.
Pawlett had difficulty confirming his name and date of birth, before the court heard that he had watched 102 videos showing the most serious level of children being sexually abused.
The police turned up at Pawlett's address, where he lives with his parents, on March 9, 2023.
His computer tower and hard drive were seized.
IT investigators found: • 296 category A images • 102 category A videos, which amounted to 45.5 hours in length • 688 category B images • 54 category B videos, lasting over five hours in total • 9,500 category C images • six category C videos • 3757 images and 11 further videos were inaccessible to police investigators Pawlett, of Locomotive Street in Darlington, remained silent during police questioning in November last year, but he later pleaded guilty to three counts of the possession of indecent images.
He has never been in trouble with police before.
In mitigation, Reece Williams told the court that his client has "spent the majority of the last decade in his bedroom.
He was absent from school, and he finds it difficult to leave his home.
He has reclusive traits," Mr Williams Said, "making it difficult to get him diagnosed." The court heard that Pawlett's mother said that her son "hasn't bathed for vast periods of time" when he has been unable to leave his room.
Pawlett suffers from depression, social anxiety, panic attacks, and shows traits of autism.
"With the assistance of his mother," Mr Reece continued, "he aims to set himself short goals such as going to the end of the street.
His main goal is to live independently." Pawlett downloaded the material "as a result of communication with another person on his computer" Mr Williams told the court, "and as his online use will now be monitored - he is unlikely to reoffend." But Judge Simon Eckersley told Pawlett that "his issues are absolutely no excuse for downloading these images.
It's people like you" the judge said, "with a disturbing and perverted sexual interest in children - that generate this sexual abuse." Pawlett walked out of court with a 16-month prison term, suspended for two-years.
He must attend 35-rehabilitation days and he was made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order - which limits his online use.
He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements - meaning the police will track where he is living or temporarily staying.
"You should be grateful for your barrister," Judge Eckersley added, "he's changed the sentence I was going to pass."
