Barnsley man avoids jail after child abuse image discovery

BARNSLEY MAN AVOIDS JAIL AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE DISCOVERY

On his birthday, a Barnsley man accused of viewing child abuse images appeared in court, avoiding prison time.

Authorities carried out a raid on Robert Toseland’s home on March 10, 2020, seizing several electronic devices.

These were subsequently examined by forensic specialists who identified 27 images in the most serious category A, depicting child abuse.

The investigation also revealed two category B images and one explicit pornographic image.

The victims' ages ranged from three to 17, as detailed in proceedings at Sheffield Crown Court.

Toseland, aged 33 at the time, had been laid off from a recruitment job just before Christmas.

The court was told that his personal circumstances led him to access these illegal images, and it was made clear that such crimes cause harm to actual victims.

The judge suggested that community work would be the most beneficial approach for Toseland’s rehabilitation.

He admitted to charges of producing indecent images and possessing an extreme pornography file.

The court sentenced him to a two-year community order, including 40 days of rehabilitative tasks and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Toseland will also be subject to a five-year order aimed at preventing sexual harm, and he will remain on the sex offenders’ register for that same period.