STEVEN MOSS FROM BARTON-UPON-HUMBER CAUGHT WITH OVER 700 CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN HULL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Steven Moss, a 42-year-old resident of Barton-upon-Humber, was found to be in possession of an alarming collection of indecent images of children. The police investigation uncovered more than 700 such images stored on his personal laptop, some of which depicted children under the age of six in highly distressing and abusive situations.

According to court reports, among the images discovered was a photograph showing a young child who was 'bound by tape' and subjected to abuse, highlighting the severity of the material stored on Moss's device. Moss admitted to possessing a total of 722 indecent images, which included 150 categorized as Category A—considered the most serious type of such material—featuring children engaged in sexual acts. The images also included 135 Category B and 438 Category C images, each representing different levels of severity and explicitness.

The investigation was initiated after police raided Moss's residence on Barrow Road in Barton-upon-Humber on October 14 of the previous year. During the search, officers seized his laptop and conducted a thorough analysis, which revealed that Moss had deliberately searched for these illicit images on various websites between March and June 2016. The police analysis confirmed that one of the images involved a child under six years old, although the identities and ages of the children in the remaining 721 images were not determined.

Prosecutor Robert Sandford explained to the court that the possession of Category A images is regarded as particularly grave because such images are considered the most serious form of child exploitation material. The court was told that individuals like Moss, who possess such images, inadvertently or deliberately, contribute to the demand that fuels the production of these harmful materials, thereby encouraging the offenders who create them.

In sentencing, Judge Simon Jack emphasized the seriousness of the offense, noting that the possession of Category A images warrants significant punishment. Moss was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, for possessing the most serious images. Additionally, he received two concurrent three-month sentences, also suspended for two years, for possessing Category B and C images. As part of his sentence, Moss is required to register as a sex offender for ten years, attend 20 days of rehabilitation programs, and pay costs amounting to £500. The court's decision underscores the gravity with which such offenses are viewed and the importance of safeguarding children from exploitation and abuse.