June 2011

Man had over 650 indecent images of girls

A MAN has been ordered to attend a course for internet sex offenders after he was found with hundreds of indecent images of children.

Mark Mollatt tried to blame another man for the pictures on his computer but later admitted downloading them from the internet.

Chelmsford Crown Court today heard that police found 659 images of young girls aged from about ten upwards on Mollatt’s computer and on discs.

He admitted three charges of making indecent images of children and was given a three-year supervision order as well as the sex offender order.

He was also put on the sex offenders’ register for five years and told to pay £1,200 costs.

Judge Charles Gratwicke told the accused he was taking a lenient view as Mollatt was taking steps to deal with his problems.

But the judge added: “Anyone viewing those images could not feel anything but sickness and revulsion.”

The images came to light after Mollatt took his computer to a man he knew because it wasn’t working properly.

But the man saw some of the images and police were called.

More images were discovered when police searched Mollatt’s home in Laburnum Crescent, Kirby Cross, Mark Lakin, prosecuting, told the court.

The majority were classed level one – the least serious category.

Mr Lakin said Mollatt initially tried to blame the man he gave the computer to repair but soon changed his story.

Katrina Jamieson, mitigating, said Mollatt had been depressed at the time the images were downloaded and was drinking and taking drugs.

He was ashamed of his behaviour and taking positive steps to change his life, she said.