A man found with videos of children being abused on his phone has been spared jail.
Francis Hewitt, of no fixed abode, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday via video link. Derrick Jones, prosecuting, detailed that on August 2 last year, Merseyside police received intelligence that somebody was accessing indecent images of children.
The intel was traced to Hewitt’s then-home address in Wallasey, and officers attended the scene. Several electronic items were seized and on two of them, indecent images of children were found.
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Mr Jones detailed that Hewitt was found with ten category A images, one category B image, and 27 category C images, plus two extreme pornographic images showing bestiality. Among the category A images were two videos, one of which was over 50 seconds long and showed a child aged six to eight being sexually assaulted by an adult male.
The images found were collected over a two year period by the defendant. Hewitt was interviewed by police and answered no comment to all questions put to him.
The 27-year-old has no previous convictions, and has been in custody since 27 January after he pleaded guilty. Anna Duke, defending, detailed her client has been ostracised by his family and kicked out of his home since these proceedings came about.
She said: “It is refreshing that he realises that he does have a problem, and that it is something he needs to address. He wants help and is willing to work.”
He previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing category A, B and C indecent images of children, one count of possession of indecent images, and a final count of possession of extreme pornographic images showing bestiality.
In sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne said: “You were found in possession of these disgusting images. Each of these images represents an abused child, and by having the images, you encourage their production.
“In this case, I believe it is more important, as well as punishment, for you to be given assistance.” Hewitt was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for 24 months.
He was ordered to complete a sex offender treatment programme, and will be subject to notification for ten years and a sexual harm prevention order. He was also told to complete 30 rehabilitation days and 40 hours of unpaid work.
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