PINKY CAINE FROM TOTNES ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE HAVING NEARLY 4,000 ILLEGAL CHILD IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the local community of Totnes, Pinky Caine, a 31-year-old man previously known as David Caine, has been handed a lenient sentence despite possessing an alarming number of indecent images of children. The court heard that investigators discovered nearly 4,000 illegal photographs on his electronic devices, with an additional 22,000 images that remained unclassified, raising serious concerns about the extent of his offending.

During the hearing at Plymouth Crown Court, it was revealed that Caine had kept a secret mobile phone, which he used to hide his internet activity. He had boasted about his efforts to conceal his browsing history, making it clear that he was aware of the illicit nature of his online behavior. The court also noted that Caine was in breach of a previously imposed suspended sentence for similar offences, yet he was not immediately sent to prison.

Judge William Mousley addressed Caine directly, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. He stated, “You have been given a huge chance on this occasion. You have come as close as it is possible to get to going straight to prison. I am prepared to accept that you do not constitute an immediate risk of harm to the public. There are still hopes of your rehabilitation through work which is ongoing.”

While the court acknowledged that the majority of the images—3,902 files—were in the lowest category of concern, some files fell into Category A, which includes videos depicting adults abusing children. The images were not classified as legally indecent, but their presence was deeply troubling. Caine pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing indecent images of children.

Furthermore, Caine was found to have violated a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by possessing an internet-enabled mobile phone that he had not declared to authorities. The order was originally issued after his conviction in July 2017 for making indecent images of children. The police had also discovered indecent images on his devices during searches in May and December of 2018.

In light of these findings, Judge Mousley sentenced Caine to nine months in prison, suspended for two years. He also ordered Caine to undergo six months of alcohol treatment and complete 35 days of intensive rehabilitation through the Probation Service. Additionally, Caine was fined £1,000 for breaching his previous suspended sentence, and his phones and computers were ordered to be forfeited.

It is worth noting that Caine’s criminal history includes an earlier conviction in July 2017, when he, then aged 28 and living in South Brent, was found guilty of making an indecent photograph of a child, along with three related sexual offences. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, for that offence.

Despite the severity of his offences, the court’s decision to suspend the sentence has sparked concern among community members and child protection advocates, who worry about the potential risk posed by individuals like Caine in the Totnes area.