Plymouth man avoids jail after sick Tumblr images found on computer
A man has avoided jail for saving sick images of children through the social networking site Tumblr.
James Vine, aged 35, was caught with 47 indecent pictures on his computer – including a handful showing children being sexually abused.
He accessed the pictures at a time when he was stressed at work and because of his role as captain at a hockey club, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
But a judge told him that it was better that he be rehabilitated and stopped from offending rather than sent to jail for a short time.
Judge William Mousley said: “The guidelines make plain that if the custody threshold is passed, it may be more suitable to impose a community order which may better serve to rehabilitate the offender and protect the public from future offending.”
He added that he could only impose a short prison sentence with a limited period of supervision after release.
Judge Mousley handed Vine an 18-month community order with a three-month electronically-monitored home curfew.
He must also do 25 sessions of probation’s Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, which will address his behaviour.
Vine, of Greenwood Park Road, Chaddlewood, Plympton, pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of indecent images of children between January and September 2018.
He had five in the most severe category showing penetrative abuse, two in the second category and 40 in the least serious bracket on his computer tower.
Katie Churcher, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said police raided the defendant’s home in September 2018. She added that he was not at home but was visited discreetly at work.
Miss Churcher said he admitted viewing and saving indecent images on Tumblr.
The court heard that police did not find any indecent images on his mobile phone, but did see sick internet search terms.
Francesca Whebell, for Vine, said he had made immediate admissions.
Vine was also handed a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will allow police to monitor his internet use.
He must sign the Sex Offender Register for five years and is barred from working with children.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the computer tower
