MARK OAKLEY

COUNDON MAN WHO AMASSED HUNDREDS OF CHILD ABUSE IMAGES OVER 20 YEARS AVOIDS JAIL

A man who amassed hundreds of child abuse images online over more than two decades has avoided going to prison.

Mark Oakley, of Coundon near Bishop Auckland, previously admitted three counts of possessing indecent images of children, in still and video form, in all three categories of severity.

He also admitted possessing prohibited, computer-generated indecent child images, and possession of extreme pornography featuring images of bestiality.

Officers visited his home and seized various devices which contained child abuse material.

In all, there were 420 images, including 81 in the most serious category, plus ten prohibited images and 13 in the extreme pornographic bracket.

Oakley, aged 59, has only one previous conviction but of a dissimilar nature.

He was sentenced to a 22-month prison term, suspended for 21 months, and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, attend 25 rehabilitation activity days, and be subject to notification and restrictions for ten years.