MICHAEL LORBERG FROM SIDBURY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER POSSESSING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AND EXTREME PORNOGRAPHY

In a case that has drawn significant attention in the local community of Sidbury, Michael Lorberg, a 54-year-old resident of Furzehill, was brought before magistrates in Exeter to face charges related to the possession of indecent images of children and extreme pornography. The incident dates back to March 2014, when Lorberg admitted to possessing a collection of illicit material that included both indecent images of minors and graphic pictures involving animals.

Lorberg pleaded guilty to making five pseudo-photographs of children, which are considered highly serious in the realm of such offenses, as well as possessing five extreme pornographic images involving horses and dogs. These images were stored on his personal laptop, which was examined by authorities following his arrest. The court heard that Lorberg’s actions stemmed from curiosity, a factor that was considered during sentencing.

The prosecution, led by Chris Bittlestone, highlighted that Lorberg, who had no prior criminal record, had actively collected this material while residing in Seaton. One of the images involving a child was classified as level four, indicating it was among the most severe types of such content, while the remaining images ranged from levels one to three in terms of severity. The pseudo-photographs, which are artificially created images that mimic real children, further underscored the seriousness of the case.

During police interviews in February, Lorberg admitted to owning these images, describing his actions as an act of stupidity. His defense, represented by Vanessa Francis, argued that incarceration would be extremely difficult for Lorberg, emphasizing his lack of previous convictions and suggesting that a non-custodial sentence would be more appropriate.

In delivering his judgment, District Judge Stephen Nicholls acknowledged Lorberg’s guilty plea and clean criminal record. He decided that Lorberg was suitable for a suspended sentence combined with a community order, which includes a requirement to complete 120 hours of unpaid work. The judge also ordered Lorberg to pay £85 in prosecution costs and an additional £80 victim surcharge.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the possession and distribution of illegal and harmful images, and it highlights the importance of judicial discretion in balancing punishment with individual circumstances.