PERVERT DOWNLOADED IMAGES OF CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS TWO BEING RAPED
A pervert downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children as young as two being raped.Neythen Russell gathered the images because he was suffering from "low emotional wellbeing" while on cocaine, Truro Crown Court heard.
Russell was caught by Devon and Cornwall Police after a search warrant was executed at his home address when they were alerted that indecent images of children were being downloaded to Snapchat.
Officers searched Russell's home in Grenville Gardens, Troon, outside Camborne, and found two mobile phones with 599 category A still and moving images, 313 category B and 719 category C images.
Forensic analysis of the phones revealed that Russell had downloaded the images between 2014 and 2021 when he was arrested.
During police interview, the 39-year-old admitted to gaining sexual gratification from the images, some of which showed young children being raped, but said he only looked at them when taking a lot of cocaine.
He was charged with three counts of making indecent images of children across the three categories, and pleaded guilty to all charges at the first opportunity.
At a sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court today (Friday August 22), Dieter Kehler, defending, said Russell had been a man of good character until then and had a stable job.
He added: "He was suffering from low emotional wellbeing.
He was unemployed at the time and had a problem with a cocaine habit.
He has since beaten his cocaine problem.
There are issues that can be worked out and on by the probation service." His Honour Judge Simon Carr said children would not be sexually abused or raped if it were not for people like Russell.
He added that Russell's collection was large and contained a number of Category A images involving very young children.
Judge Carr said Russell had continued to minimise he has a sexual interest in children.
He added: "People don't download 1,500 images of children being abused unless they have a sexual interest in children.
"You have addressed your cocaine problem and have not offended since.
You were a man of good character which you have now lost." Judge Carr sentenced Russell to eight months in prison suspended for two years.
He also handed him a 15-day rehabilitation requirement.
Russell will be on the sex offender register for several years and a sexual harm prevention order was also imposed restricting his access to the internet for five years.
