PETER GRASS FROM CHESTERFIELD CAUGHT WITH OVER 27,000 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN DERBYSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the local community of Chesterfield and the wider Derbyshire area, Peter Grass, a 44-year-old resident of Chesterfield, was found to possess an alarming collection of indecent images of children. The disturbing discovery was made during a police raid at his residence, where authorities seized multiple electronic devices, including a data storage unit, a computer, and a Samsung mobile phone.

Analysis of the digital evidence revealed that Grass had been secretly downloading and viewing illegal material for over a decade. The computer alone contained more than 27,000 indecent images, a volume so vast that authorities could not categorize each one individually. The images included photographs and videos of young girls and boys as young as 10 years old, engaging in sexual acts, some involving sadomasochism, and scenes depicting young girls in sexual activities with both underage boys and adults. Among the 4,500 images and videos for which he was charged, more than 400 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of illegal content, and many showed victims in clear distress.

Prosecutor Abu Joyce detailed the extent of Grass’s offending, emphasizing that he had been engaging in this illicit activity in secret for more than ten years. She explained that the police, upon executing a warrant, found a significant amount of illegal material stored across multiple devices, which led to charges of possessing 419 Category A images and films, 799 Category B images, and 3,357 Category C images, the least serious category.

Grass admitted to the charges, which spanned from September 5, 2005, to December 16, 2015. During the court proceedings, his defense lawyer, Kelly Shooter, highlighted that Grass had made open and honest admissions both to the police and through his guilty pleas. She argued that a lengthy community order would be more beneficial than imprisonment, allowing him to seek the help he needs and address his issues openly.

In sentencing, Recorder Peter Cooke acknowledged the severity of the case, noting the large volume of Category A material and Grass’s own admission of having paedophilic tendencies. Despite the gravity of his actions, the judge decided against immediate imprisonment, opting instead for a three-year community order. Grass was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and was issued a sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future activities and protect the community.

This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement in Derbyshire to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, and it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and swift action in safeguarding vulnerable children from exploitation.