ROBERT COOMBES FROM EVERSLEY ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE POSSESSING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN WINCHESTER
In October 2017, Robert Coombes, a 62-year-old lorry driver from Lower Common, Eversley, was spared imprisonment despite possessing nearly 300 extreme pornographic images on his laptop.He appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday, 28 September, after pleading guilty to possessing indecent images of children.
The court was told that police visited Coombes’ home on 25 July this year and seized his Toshiba laptop amid suspicions of inappropriate material on the device.
On inspecting the laptop, authorities found category A images—the most serious classification—as well as 296 extreme pornographic images, including photos involving sexual acts with dead or alive animals.
Prosecutor Simon Edwards explained: “Further inspection of the laptop discovered that Coombes had computer cleaning software and proxy services installed, often used to access this kind of content online.
Although there was no evidence of distribution, it still indicates exploitation of young people.” Defending, solicitor David Castle stated: “Mr Coombes told police that he did not intend to download the material.
The images appeared as pop-ups while he was searching for other content, and he claimed he was unaware some of the material was illegal until informed by authorities.
“He has a good character, is supported by a long-term wife, and has shown remorse by entering an early guilty plea.
He has assured that such an offence will not happen again.” Sentencing judge Andrew Barnett issued a five-year internet usage injunction preventing Coombes from accessing similar content and using incognito browsers, along with a two-year community order and 80 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Barnett commented: “At your age, you should understand that this behaviour is completely unacceptable.
During your community order, your internet activity will be closely monitored, and any breach of the injunction could result in a lengthy prison sentence.
You should be embarrassed to have been caught viewing such material.” Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the laptop as part of the case.
