ST LEONARDS MEN JAILLED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN LEWES COURT

In a recent case heard at Lewes Crown Court, two men from the town of St Leonards have been sentenced to prison after admitting to serious charges related to the creation and distribution of indecent images of children. The individuals involved, Joe Wibberley and Karl James, both aged 30 and residents of Battle Road in St Leonards, faced the court to answer for their disturbing offenses.

Back in February, during proceedings at Hastings Magistrates Court, Wibberley pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including the distribution of two Category A and two Category B indecent images of children. These offenses were committed over a period spanning from December 15, 2017, to October 22, 2018. In addition to these distribution charges, Wibberley also admitted to creating a significant number of indecent images, with at least 334 images classified as Category A, 208 as Category B, and 673 as Category C, all produced on or before October 30, 2018.

Karl James, also from Battle Road in St Leonards, similarly pleaded guilty to distributing five Category A indecent images of children, along with one Category A indecent movie depicting children. His guilty pleas extended to distributing two Category B video images and one Category C image of children. His offenses occurred within the same timeframe as Wibberley's, from December 15, 2017, to October 22, 2018. James also admitted to creating a substantial number of indecent images, with at least 237 classified as Category A, 261 as Category B, and 287 as Category C, all produced on or before October 30, 2018.

Prior to their sentencing, both men were released on conditional bail, awaiting the court's decision. On March 3, at Lewes Crown Court, the judge handed down a combined sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment for both Wibberley and James. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed the length of the sentence. Additionally, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed on each man, restricting their activities and contact for a period of ten years to prevent further harm and protect the community from potential reoffending.