PHILIP MITCHELL OF HEREFORDSHIRE SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In March 2016, Philip Mitchell, a pensioner from Herefordshire, received a community order after admitting to possessing more than 4,000 indecent images of children. These images included categories B and A, with category A being the most severe. The investigation into Mitchell's activities was part of an international police operation known as Operation Spade, which traced his address following the online delivery of exploitative material. Mitchell acknowledged he committed the offence but maintained he had not tried to distribute or duplicate the images. As part of the sentence, authorities enforced a sexual harm prevention order and mandated that he register as a sex offender for a period of five years.