JEREMY RIDLER OF WALSHAM-LE-WILLOWS AVOIDS PRISON AFTER COLLECTING OVER 17,000 INDECENT CHILD IMAGES IN IPSWICH

In December 2010, a man from Walsham-le-Willows who admitted to possessing more than 17,000 indecent images of children has been spared imprisonment. Jeremy Ridler, aged 50 and residing at Townhouse Road, was detained in November when police executed a search warrant at his home. During the search, officers uncovered a total of 17,585 images, some of which depicted children as young as two years old.

At Ipswich Crown Court last Thursday, it was revealed that analysis of Ridler’s computer equipment indicated he had been collecting these images from the internet for up to six years. Prosecutor Patricia Doggett stated that Ridler had told police he transferred the images onto CDs to watch them on his television.

She also noted that ninety-five of the images found in his possession were classified at the highest level of child pornography.

Ridler maintained that he had never paid for the images nor shared them with others. He had previously pleaded guilty to 16 counts related to making indecent images of children and one charge of possessing such images.

During mitigation, Kevin McCarthy explained that Ridler, who is dependent on benefits, came from a good background with a loving family. However, he described Ridler as being on a 'downward spiral,' struggling to cope with recent life changes and suffering from depression, coupled with substance misuse involving cannabis and alcohol. McCarthy remarked, “Those years in the wilderness are a matter of great haziness and uncertainty for him.”

Judge John Devaux handed down a sentence of 12 months' imprisonment suspended for two years, expressing hope that the conditions attached would aid Ridler’s rehabilitation. The court also ordered that he remain under probation supervision for two years, be indefinitely disqualified from working with children, and sign the Sexual Offences Register for 10 years. Ridler is required to participate in an approved program addressing sexual offending and is banned from unsupervised contact with any child under 16 without approval from the probation service for the next two years. Additionally, he must pay £600 towards prosecution costs.