PAUL STANDEN FROM CHALGROVE, OXFORD, ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE DOWNLOAD OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Chalgrove and Oxford, Paul Standen, aged 38, of Lane Farm, Warpsgrove Lane, Chalgrove, was found to have downloaded an alarming number of indecent images of children, yet he narrowly avoided a custodial sentence. The investigation began when police raided a residence on Temple Road, Oxford, on September 15 of the previous year, leading to the seizure of two computers belonging to Standen.

During the search, authorities uncovered a staggering collection of approximately 160,000 images depicting children as young as five years old. These images were not only stored but also meticulously organized into various sub-categorized folders, indicating a deliberate effort to classify the material. Among the files, titles such as ‘cute girl 9-10’ and ‘bambi 11-12’ were identified, highlighting the disturbing nature of the content.

Standen faced multiple charges related to the possession and downloading of indecent images. Specifically, he admitted to three counts: first, creating 1,463 images on August 22, 2009; second, downloading 27,550 images between March 1 and June 30 of the previous year on one computer; and third, acquiring an additional 29,276 images on the same period on the second computer. The images ranged in severity from level one to level five, with level five being the most serious. The police noted that not every image was examined, but the charges were based on those that had been assessed and categorized.

Prosecutor Joanna Durber explained to Oxford Crown Court that the images were stored in a manner that suggested they were intended for ongoing viewing rather than temporary storage. The computers contained a variety of images and movies, including 160 level one movies, two level two movies, and several still images across different levels of severity. The majority of the images were classified as level one, indicating a lower level of harm, but the sheer volume was nonetheless concerning.

Defense attorney Julian Lynch argued that Standen’s involvement was influenced by his environment. He stated, “The reason he got into downloading these images is that, having taken up residence with the other offenders who were already interested in that sort of material, it simply normalised in the household that sort of image being downloaded and looked at.”

In sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle acknowledged the gravity of the offense but opted for a community-based penalty. Standen was sentenced to a 12-month community order and was required to complete 80 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from using any computer or internet-enabled device that does not keep a browsing history. He must also inform his designated public protection officer if he acquires any new devices.

Judge Pringle expressed his disapproval of Standen’s actions, stating, “I am told that you are embarrassed by what you did over the last year or two and rightly you should be. Embarrassment is probably too light a word. What you do by accessing even level one images of young children is you create a market for it. Your appetite was voracious – you had something in the region of 75,000 images of young children on your computer.”

He further remarked, “The court often marks these offenses with custodial sentences, and I would be quite justified in passing one in this case. Because of your previous history, because of the plea of guilty you have entered and because of what I have read about you in the report, I am prepared to follow its recommendation and order a community order in your case.”

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service noted that it remains uncertain whether the number of images found on Standen’s computers constitutes a record, but the case underscores the severity of such offenses and the importance of ongoing vigilance against the distribution and possession of child exploitation material.