Level crossing keeper in Lincolnshire downloaded 50,000 child porn images
A level crossing keeper who downloaded nearly 50,000 child porn images has been jailed for 16 months.
The material found at the home of Clive Smith who operated the crossing at Ulceby, Lincolnshire, included images of children as young as 2 years old being sexually abused.
Detective Constable Graham Lindley of Lincolnshire Police later described the images as one of the worst collections of abusive images he had seen.
Smith’s stash of child porn was found among a massive collection of disks which filled a room from floor to ceiling at his home adjoining the crossing.
Phil Howes, prosecuting, said that when police officers arrived at Smith’s home in January he immediately admitted he had been downloading child porn.
Smith had downloaded more than 60 hours of video clips.
When he was interviewed Smith said: “I just could not stop. I can get it, so I get it.”
Smith, 54, of Carr Lane, Ulceby, admitted five charges of making indecent images of children, possession of 49,103 images on January 20 and a further charge of possession of extreme pornography.
Judge Sean Morris placed Smith on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and told him: “These are not victimless crimes.
“Children are being raped to satisfy the perversions of those who enjoy watching this material.
“An experienced police officer says that this is one of the worst cases he has ever seen. I cannot overlook this.”
David Stanton, defending, said Smith had no previous convictions and would lose both his job and his home if sent to jail.
“He takes the view that a man of his age with this conviction will never find work again,” he said.
