THOMAS WARREN FROM CARTERTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER DOWNLOAD OF CHILD INDECENT IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Carterton, Thomas Warren, a 41-year-old resident of Saffron Crescent, was found to have downloaded an extensive collection of indecent images depicting children as young as five. Despite the severity of his actions, Warren was ultimately spared immediate imprisonment during his sentencing at Oxford Crown Court in January 2018.

Authorities conducted a thorough raid on Warren’s residence on November 16 of the previous year. During the operation, police seized multiple electronic devices, including an Intenso external hard drive located in his bedroom and a flash drive that was attached to his television. These devices were subjected to detailed forensic analysis, which uncovered a disturbing cache of illegal images and videos.

The investigation revealed that Warren had accumulated a significant number of illicit materials over a period spanning from September 2011 to October 2016. The images and videos found on his devices were classified into different categories based on their severity. Specifically, there were 132 images in the most extreme Category A, 312 in Category B, and a staggering 5,499 in Category C. All of these images depicted children aged between five and fourteen, highlighting the disturbing nature of his collection.

Prior to sentencing, Michelle Clarke, representing Warren, expressed her client’s remorse and regret for his actions. She stated that Warren “deeply regrets” what he had done and wished to apologize to the court. Clarke explained that Warren’s involvement with such material began as a result of lawful viewing but gradually escalated into accessing more explicit content involving children. She emphasized that Warren is now committed to ensuring that such behavior will never recur, describing his actions as a “huge wake-up call.”

During the sentencing hearing, Recorder Nigel Daly acknowledged the gravity of the offence. While he recognized Warren’s remorse and previous good character, he emphasized that the seriousness of possessing such material warranted a custodial sentence. However, he also noted that the sentence could be suspended, considering Warren’s apparent cessation of viewing this type of pornography.

As a result, Warren was sentenced to six months in prison for the Category A offences, three months for Category B, and one month for Category C. All sentences were to run concurrently but were suspended for a period of 24 months. Additionally, Warren was placed under a supervision order for two years and required to complete 15 days of supervised activity, reflecting the court’s attempt to balance punishment with rehabilitation.