JOHN LAMBERT FROM ALSTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN CUMBRIA

In a case that has shocked the community of Alston and the wider Cumbria region, John Lambert, a 50-year-old telecommunications engineer, was sentenced to a prison term after being found guilty of possessing a significant number of indecent images of children. The incident came to light when authorities uncovered over 1,000 illicit photographs stored on a computer hard drive that Lambert had submitted for servicing.

The court proceedings revealed that Lambert had downloaded a total of 1,080 images of child abuse between the years 2005 and 2011. Among these, five images were classified as level five, indicating the most severe category of child pornography. The discovery was made when technicians, working on Lambert’s computer, noticed a folder labeled with the name of a file-sharing website. Upon inspection, many of the file names within this folder suggested they contained explicit material involving minors, prompting immediate police involvement.

Prosecutor Tim Evans detailed the findings to the court, emphasizing the gravity of the case. Lambert, a resident of Alston at the time of the offenses, was charged with 18 counts of making indecent photographs of a child. The court heard that Lambert had begun viewing such material during a period when he was away from his wife, which added a personal and emotional dimension to the case.

Mark Shepherd, representing Lambert, provided context about the defendant’s personal life, stating that Lambert’s wife supported him initially but described him as “psychotic,” a term she used to characterize his mental state. Shepherd explained that Lambert’s 25-year marriage was under strain, and the couple was now living in Worcester. He also mentioned that Lambert expressed remorse, describing the experience as a “salutary” one that he would prefer not to repeat.

During sentencing, Recorder Mark Ainsworth highlighted the disturbing nature of the images, noting that they depicted children, some very young, being subjected to sexual abuse. The judge emphasized that the existence and distribution of such material fuel the demand and support for ongoing abuse of children by others. As a result, Lambert was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to comply with a notification requirement for ten years and a sexual offences prevention order for five years.

Following the sentencing, Lambert’s wife was permitted to address the court. She explicitly stated her disapproval of her husband’s actions, asserting that she did not support him and describing him as “psychotic” with no regard for others. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Alston and raises ongoing concerns about the prevalence of such crimes in the region.