SIMON MARSH FROM STOKE SENTENCED FOR DOWNLOAD OF OVER 65,000 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In July 2016, Simon Marsh, a 33-year-old man from Stoke, faced serious allegations after authorities uncovered a vast collection of indecent images of children stored on his personal devices. The police executed a search warrant at Marsh’s residence, located on Sun Street in Shelton, and during the raid, they discovered a significant number of illicit images on his laptop, with additional material found on his mobile phone. The investigation revealed that the majority of these images fell into Category C, which is classified as the least severe category of such material. However, there were also some images and videos categorized as Category A, indicating the most serious level of abuse. These images were meticulously organized into folders created by Marsh himself, suggesting a deliberate effort to catalog and perhaps revisit this disturbing content.

Prosecutor Neil Ahuja provided details about the nature of the images, emphasizing that some depicted very young children, including cases involving children as young as two and four years old being sexually abused. The evidence also showed that Marsh had used specific search terms on his computer to locate such material, indicating premeditation and intent. When questioned by police during his arrest, Marsh reportedly admitted, “I will be going with you, I have got lots on the computer,” acknowledging the extent of his possession. In total, authorities identified and cataloged 65,840 indecent images, a staggering number that underscores the severity of the case.

Marsh, who resides on Sun Street in Shelton, pleaded guilty to the charge of making indecent images of children. His defense highlighted that he suffers from mental health issues, which may have contributed to his actions. During the court proceedings, Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Marsh to a two-year conditional discharge, a penalty that allows him to avoid immediate imprisonment but imposes strict conditions. The judge’s decision followed a period during which Marsh was removed from the courtroom due to concerns about his mental state. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Glenn acknowledged the disturbing nature of the images, noting that they included very young children and that the collection was amassed over a period of time, with Marsh actively seeking out such material. The pre-sentence report described Marsh as having an obsession with pornography, which reportedly escalated from adult material to images involving children.

As part of his sentence, Marsh will be required to register as a sex offender for two years. Additionally, he will be subject to a range of restrictions designed to protect vulnerable individuals, including bans from activities involving children and vulnerable adults. Despite the seriousness of the charges, Marsh has no previous convictions, and the court’s decision reflects a complex balance between punishment and consideration of his mental health condition.