EX-SOLDIER FROM NEWPORT CAUGHT WITH SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE
Nicholas Brown, a 58-year-old former British Army soldier from Chepstow, was found guilty of possessing objectionable images involving young girls being sexually assaulted.Police discovered hundreds of indecent photographs on his electronic devices following a raid at his home in December 2020.
Among these, he had 106 images classified as category A, which is considered the most severe, along with 85 at category B and 206 at category C.
Additionally, he possessed 64 extreme pornographic images.
Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett explained that some of the content involved girls approximately six years old, and Brown admitted to having viewed such images but claimed he did not deliberately seek them out.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent photographs of children and to possessing extreme pornographic images.
The offences were committed between March and December 2020.
The court heard that Brown had served in the Army during the 1980s and had no previous criminal record.
His barrister highlighted that Brown's wife was divorcing him and one of his sons had disowned him.
Judge Michael Fitton QC described some of the material as 'shocking' and noted Brown's attempt to justify his actions with 'half-reasons and half-excuses,' indicating remorse and shame.
Brown was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work, a 30-day rehabilitation activity, and pay costs and a victim surcharge.
He is also required to register as a sex offender for the next seven years and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order until 2028.
