Dec 2007

Man downloaded child porn pics

A EMPLOYEE who downloaded more than 1,000 indecent images of children on a computer belonging to his employer was sentenced to a community order.

Paul McCarthy-Reed, 55, worked at a business in Newport when his employer had spotted an image of a child dancing naked on his computer.

Prosecutor Harry Baker told Cardiff Crown court how the employer tackled the defendant when he found the images and called the police.

McCarthy-Reed admitted downloading images “out of curiosity”.

There were a total of 1,042 said Mr Baker ranging from the least serious to the most serious, involving children aged three to five.

When interviewed by the police he claimed it had occurred because of “a morbid curiosity”.

Stephen Geary defending said that recently McCarthy-Reed had turned his life around and he was at low risk of reoffending.

“He has no problems with drink or drugs and he admitted the offences at the first opportunity,” he said.

McCarthy-Reed had been convicted by Gwent magistrates of two charges of possessing indecent images of children and 15 charges of making indecent images of a child and had been committed to the crown court for sentence.

Judge Neil Bidder told McCarthy-Reed that the pictures could not have been produced without “children being appalling abused”.

He added: “You encouraged this. Your employer acted extremely responsibly in reporting the matter.”

He said McCarthy-Reed’s explanation for downloading the images as being out of curiosity was absurd.

He sentenced him to a three year community order, with a supervision requirement.

He must also take part in a sex offender treatment programme and to register as a sex offender for five years.