JUDGE IN ST ALBANS DROPS PRISON SENTENCE FOR THOMAS GREEN IN HEMEL HEMPSTEAD AFTER CHILD ABUSE IMAGE ADMISSION
In October 2012, a Hemel Hempstead man named Thomas Green, aged 23 and residing on Milton Court, escaped imprisonment after admitting to possessing indecent images of children.At St Albans Crown Court on Friday, Green pleaded guilty to two charges related to having both still and moving images of children on his computer.
Prosecutor Beverley Cripps explained that police had visited Green's home in 2011, seized his computer equipment, and conducted an analysis which uncovered the illegal images.
The material depicted young boys under the age of 14.
During police interviews, Green admitted to obtaining the images through internet chatrooms.
Defence counsel Miss Nerida Harford-Bell stated, "He takes his position seriously and regrets his actions." She also mentioned that Green had been offered the opportunity to participate in a sex offenders treatment programme and expressed his willingness to seek help.
In sentencing, Judge Michael Baker QC acknowledged that a small portion of the material was extremely severe.
He noted that the offences were serious enough to normally warrant a custodial sentence.
However, the judge decided to impose a non-custodial order, allowing Green to maintain his liberty while participating in the treatment programme.
Green was sentenced to a three-year supervision order and ordered to pay costs amounting to £1,100.
