MICHAEL SIDAWAY

STOCKTON MAN HANDED SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE COLLECTION

A pervert caught with sickening child abuse images on children as young as four-to-six-months old has walked free from court.

Michael Sidaway, of Ridley Drive, Stockton, had more than 1,000 images and videos stored on digital devices, which he downloaded over a 12-year period.

Teesside Crown Court heard that he possessed 282 Category A images, the worst of its kind; 278 Category B images; 594 Category C images; and two prohibited images, downloaded between 2012 and January this year.

The court was told some victims were as young as six months old at the time of abuse.

Sidaway pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images of children in categories A, B, and C, and prohibited images.

The judge sentenced him to 12 months in custody, suspended for two years, and ordered 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register, and an application for a sexual harm prevention order will be made.

The judge described the offenses as quite disgusting, involving images of a four to six-month-old baby, and expressed concern over the volume and long period of collection.