FORMER BUS DRIVER BLAMES ACCESSING INDECENT CHILD IMAGES ON STEROIDS USE
A judge described the offending as a type that is unfortunately quite common in this court.Michael Wakefield, a former bus driver, who possessed hundreds of indecent images of children, attributed his criminal behavior to steroid and testosterone use.
He was sentenced to a suspended prison term after admitting to producing numerous indecent images.
During sentencing, Judge Christopher Morgan noted that this case was one that 'sadly is too familiar to this court.' He observed that Wakefield displayed some awareness of his misconduct and appeared genuinely remorseful.
The 40-year-old was found to have almost 600 illegal images, including 96 classified as the most severe Category A.
Most of the images (385) fell into Category C, and the collection also contained 23 images of extreme pornography.
At Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday, March 19, it was revealed that police uncovered the images following intelligence received between May and June 2024 indicating someone was online accessing child images.
Detectives determined that Wakefield’s searches were deliberate and involved many different victims, according to prosecutor Sarah Memmi.
Defence attorney Daniel O’Malley told the court that Wakefield 'feels profound shame and remorse.' He explained that Wakefield, living on Orchard Street in Chelmsford, was using steroids at the time and was unaware of their side-effects.
The attorney noted that the substances significantly boosted Wakefield's sex drive, making him feel 'like a completely different person.' It was added that Wakefield took control of himself after arrest and is no longer taking the medication, with his sexual desires now nearly nonexistent.
O’Malley emphasized that Wakefield attributes his conduct change to steroid use.
He also highlighted Wakefield's financial struggles, including losing his job as a bus driver and living with his father, whom he cares for.
Wakefield had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of producing indecent images of a child and one count of possessing extreme porn, at an earlier court hearing.
Judge Morgan, stating that he would only suspend the sentence this time, remarked that Wakefield was developing insight into the reasons behind his actions and had addressed the factors that triggered his offending.
Without any prior convictions, Wakefield was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years.
He is also required to perform 250 hours of unpaid community service and attend 25 days of rehabilitation activities.
Additionally, he will be under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years, with the authorities also being informed of his conviction.
