NEWCASTLE PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
A cocaine-addicted Newcastle paedophile told police 'I've been stupid' after he was caught with horrific child abuse images and videos.IT worker Richard Hunter was found with indecent and prohibited material, some which involved children as young as four years old.
The 46-year-old was also in possession of extreme pornography - some of which involved a horse.
When police arrested him in 2020, Hunter "fully admitted" what he'd done.
On Tuesday, Hunter, of Stanton Street, Arthurs Hill, Newcastle, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for three counts of making indecent images, possession of extreme pornography, and possessing a prohibited image of a child.
He had pleaded guilty to the offences, which were committed between January and July 2020.
The court was told that Hunter was living in Dunston, Gateshead, when police found the material on separate devices during the Covid pandemic.
A total of 22 images and 31 videos of extreme pornography, some of which involved a horse were found.
A total of 80 images and 811 videos of category A indecent images were found, along with 563 images and 150 videos of category C, and 39 images and 133 videos of category B.
A prohibited "cartoon" of a child as young as three-years-old was also discovered.
Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said: "The defendant fully admitted the offences and when arrested stated, 'I know what you are talking about, I've been stupid'.
He [said] he had issues with cocaine use and developed a sex addiction." Miss Buck said Hunter had searched for "eight-year-old Lolitas" online, along with a number of other searches associated with children.
Some of the children shown in the material found were "suffering", and there was evidence he had been trying to "conceal" the images.
The court was told that Hunter - who works as a software development engineer - claimed he could not remember what he had been searching for due to his cocaine use but denied having a sexual interest in children.
He had no previous convictions.
Glen Gatland, defending, said: "He admitted [the offences] straight away.
It was an isolated period in his life when going through stress and traumatic incidents." "He had lost his business partner who had died.
That was the mother of his then-partner, she turned to alcohol and they split up.
He became very socially isolated.
This was during the Covid period, he was living on his own and he turned to drink and then drugs, cocaine in particular, he became addicted.
It was during this period that he downloaded this material." Mr Gatland added that Hunter was currently developing software which will help people with cerebral palsy and is a "thoroughly decent, hardworking man".
Recorder James Wood KC sentenced Hunter to 12 months prison, suspended for two years.
He ordered him to complete a 40 hour rehabilitation requirement, and a two year community order.
He will be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and a 10 year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.
