MICHAEL CAVANNA SENTENCED IN EXETER FOR CHILD AND ANIMAL PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES
In September 2017, Michael Cavanna, a retired NHS manager residing in Lawn Close, Torquay, was involved in a case linked to online child exploitation and extreme animal pornography.The incident began when airline staff examined a laptop left on an aircraft during Cavanna's return trip from Faro, Portugal, to Exeter Airport, in an effort to identify its owner.
During the inspection, staff discovered stories containing fantasies about the sexual abuse of young children stored on a memory card within the device.
This prompted police involvement, and subsequent investigations at Cavanna's home uncovered further evidence.
Officers found images depicting serious abuse of girls aged five and six, along with 44 other images of children in sexual poses.
In addition, they discovered 212 images and 288 videos depicting adults engaging in sex with animals.
The authorities also found that Cavanna, aged 68 and a married father of two, had conducted online searches using disturbing terms such as "toddler prostitute" and "too young for sex." Cavanna pleaded guilty to three counts of making or possessing indecent or prohibited images of children and one count of possessing extreme animal pornography.
Judge Graham Cottle sentenced him at Exeter Crown Court to three months in prison, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to complete ten days of rehabilitation activities, registered on the sex offenders' register for seven years, and subject to a police monitoring order for his internet activity.
During the sentencing, the judge remarked, "This case started with you leaving your computer on a flight from Portugal to Exeter and has led you to this court.
You are a 68-year-old family man with grown-up children and no previous convictions."
