MAN CAUGHT WITH ALMOST 600 CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES CLAIMS AUTOCORRECT 'MURDERED' HIS INNOCENCE
A man caught with hundreds of images of children being sexual abused told officers his phone must have autocorrected "I am not interested" to "yes" when he was exchanging messages in a group chat, a court has heard.The autocorrect excuse was one of a number 30-year-old Peter Lince gave to police for why he had downloaded and shared indecent images ranging from he was being blackmailed to him "accidentally" clicking on the images while looking for adult pornography.
The court heard that in January 2024, police executed a search warrant at Lince's house in Swansea after receiving intelligence that a social media account linked to the property had been involved in sharing indecent images.
His phone was seized, revealing the presence of indecent images, including 138 category A images showing the most extreme kinds of sexual abuse including rape, along with 177 category B images, and 274 category C images.
The children in the Category A images were aged as young as four.
Police also found Lince had shared two category A images and one category C image with others in a group chat.
His internet history showed search terms like "jail bait" and "teen sex." The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of categories A, B, and C and distributing images of categories A and C.
He also previously possessed and shared indecent images but was not charged at that time.
During the hearing, the prosecutor described statements made by Lince, who initially denied any knowledge of the images before providing various reasons for possessing and sharing them, including being blackmailed, autocorrect errors, and accidental clicks.
Lince, of Heol Awstin, Ravenhill, Swansea, had lived with his mother and sister, both heavily reliant on him.
Despite crossing the custodial threshold, his lawyer argued for a suspended sentence, citing his vulnerabilities and support system.
Judge Paul Thomas KC sentenced Lince to two years in prison suspended for two years, requiring him to complete a rehabilitation course, 200 hours of community service, be a registered sex offender for 10 years, and a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.
The judge emphasized the images depicted real children being severely abused "to give people like you something to masturbate over," and noted his concern about the defendant's repeated lies and previous police findings.
The judge expressed reservations about prison time, believing a constructive alternative might prevent future trouble.
The court was told that Lince had no previous convictions but had been previously investigated for similar offences in 2020, where police found dozens of indecent images and he had sent some to others.
The decision not to charge at that time was made without CPS consultation.
Lince's living situation and his support network were also discussed, with the judge ultimately prioritizing rehabilitation over immediate custody.
