HOUTON MAN THOMAS MOSSTOP SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN CUMBRIA
| Red Rose Database
Houghton Child Sexual Abuser
In April 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving a middle-aged man from Houghton, Cumbria, who was found to possess and download indecent images of children, some as young as two years old. The individual, identified as Thomas Douglas Mossop, aged 48, faced serious legal consequences after police investigations uncovered his involvement in child sexual abuse material.
Authorities in Cumbria acted swiftly after linking Mossop’s computer address to the illegal downloads. The police raid took place at his residence on South Croft, Houghton, a village located north of Carlisle. During the operation, officers seized multiple electronic devices, including computer tower units, a USB stick, and a mobile phone. Subsequent forensic analysis confirmed that these devices contained indecent images of children, which Mossop had stored and accessed.
The court proceedings revealed that Mossop had downloaded a total of 294 images depicting children in various states of abuse. Among these, 77 images were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of harm, while 58 were categorized as Category B, and 159 as Category C. The images were accessed during the years 2015 and 2016, highlighting a period of ongoing illegal activity.
During police interviews, Mossop attempted to justify his actions by claiming that he was initially viewing normal pornography and that images of children appeared unexpectedly. He stated, “I was looking at normal porn and images of children came up. You can’t control what comes on the screen.” However, he later admitted to having knowingly accessed and viewed the illicit images, acknowledging his involvement.
Representing Mossop, solicitor Paul Tweddle, who confirmed that his client had no prior criminal record, expressed regret that Mossop did not accept responsibility immediately. Tweddle emphasized that Mossop denied any sexual attraction to children, but nonetheless, he had viewed the images. The lawyer described Mossop as a lonely, middle-aged man who is responsible for household chores such as shopping and cooking, and noted that his elderly father, aged 73, was present in court during the proceedings.
Judge Barbara Forrester, presiding over the case at Carlisle Crown Court, acknowledged that Mossop now understood the harm caused by his actions. She expressed particular concern over the fact that one of the victims depicted in the images was only two years old. The judge sentenced Mossop to a six-month jail term, which was suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time immediately but would be under supervision.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Mossop was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work and pay a victim surcharge of £115. His name will be entered onto the Sex Offenders Register for ten years, and he is required to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation. Furthermore, he will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, aimed at preventing any future offending behavior.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement in Cumbria to combat the distribution and possession of child abuse images, and highlights the serious legal repercussions faced by individuals involved in such crimes.
Authorities in Cumbria acted swiftly after linking Mossop’s computer address to the illegal downloads. The police raid took place at his residence on South Croft, Houghton, a village located north of Carlisle. During the operation, officers seized multiple electronic devices, including computer tower units, a USB stick, and a mobile phone. Subsequent forensic analysis confirmed that these devices contained indecent images of children, which Mossop had stored and accessed.
The court proceedings revealed that Mossop had downloaded a total of 294 images depicting children in various states of abuse. Among these, 77 images were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of harm, while 58 were categorized as Category B, and 159 as Category C. The images were accessed during the years 2015 and 2016, highlighting a period of ongoing illegal activity.
During police interviews, Mossop attempted to justify his actions by claiming that he was initially viewing normal pornography and that images of children appeared unexpectedly. He stated, “I was looking at normal porn and images of children came up. You can’t control what comes on the screen.” However, he later admitted to having knowingly accessed and viewed the illicit images, acknowledging his involvement.
Representing Mossop, solicitor Paul Tweddle, who confirmed that his client had no prior criminal record, expressed regret that Mossop did not accept responsibility immediately. Tweddle emphasized that Mossop denied any sexual attraction to children, but nonetheless, he had viewed the images. The lawyer described Mossop as a lonely, middle-aged man who is responsible for household chores such as shopping and cooking, and noted that his elderly father, aged 73, was present in court during the proceedings.
Judge Barbara Forrester, presiding over the case at Carlisle Crown Court, acknowledged that Mossop now understood the harm caused by his actions. She expressed particular concern over the fact that one of the victims depicted in the images was only two years old. The judge sentenced Mossop to a six-month jail term, which was suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time immediately but would be under supervision.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Mossop was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work and pay a victim surcharge of £115. His name will be entered onto the Sex Offenders Register for ten years, and he is required to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation. Furthermore, he will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, aimed at preventing any future offending behavior.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement in Cumbria to combat the distribution and possession of child abuse images, and highlights the serious legal repercussions faced by individuals involved in such crimes.