MAN SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGES
A man named Martin Owens-Cairns was found to have collected disturbing images involving children as young as seven on his mobile phone and laptop between 2016 and 2019.His devices were seized after police, prompted by concerns raised through Twitter about photos posted online, visited his address in Normanton Terrace.
Forensic analysis revealed the child sexual abuse pictures, which included one Category A image depicting penetrative activity, two Category B and one Category C images.
The children depicted ranged from seven to 14 years old.
Owens-Cairns, who now resides at Upper Spon Street in Coventry, admitted to making the indecent images and appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to three counts.
The court was told that the police had been alerted in March 2019 after Twitter reported the images.
Officers attended his former address two months later, seized multiple devices, and found the illegal images.
The court ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned sentencing to September 7, with District Judge Kate Meek warning Owens-Cairns that if he did not attend, a warrant could be issued for his arrest.
The defense declined to give a statement at that time, stating they would speak at the sentencing hearing.
