PHILIP SANSBY IN HYDE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE FIND
In May 2021, a pensioner from Hyde named Philip Sansby, aged 71, narrowly avoided jail after police discovered over a thousand images of extreme pornography and disturbing child abuse material on his laptop.Following an anonymous tip, law enforcement officers raided Sansby’s home in Hyde in September 2019.
During the investigation, officers suggested that Sansby had downloaded and shared indecent images of children.
In response, he claimed, “I downloaded it but I scrubbed it off.” Officers confiscated his Toshiba laptop and several hard drives.
In an interview at the police station the following month, Sansby admitted to visiting pornography websites and downloading adult content.
However, he denied any sexual interest in children, stating, “I visited porn sites and downloaded adult pornography, but I didn’t intend to do anything illegal”.
Analysis of his devices uncovered 'category A' indecent images of children aged between 10 and 16, along with a 23-minute video depicting a horrific sex act on a child under 16.
The forensic review also revealed files with names such as 'paedo real kids f******,' which had been emptied of content.
Police found a total of 1,099 images and a small number of videos of extreme pornography, some involving animals.
After this discovery, Sansby made “full admissions” to authorities, according to prosecutor Nicola Carroll.
He claimed he was unaware that possessing such images was illegal and admitted to visiting websites featuring pre-teen children.
Judge stated that, based on the defendant’s expressions of remorse, Sansby’s prison sentence could be suspended.
The judge remarked, “I hope you receive help to cure you of this sickness.” Sansby, living on Bradley Green Road in Hyde, was sentenced to a suspended 12-month term after pleading guilty to possessing indecent images of children and extreme pornography.
He was also ordered to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activities, placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.
Additionally, Sansby was required to pay £510 towards prosecution costs.
