July 2023

Married dad caught with child abuse photos

A married dad’s reputation is in tatters after he was exposed as a pervert.

Gareth Littler was caught with pictures and videos of children being sexually abused.

The 33-year-old was caught after police traced his IP address which had been used to download the sickening images and footage. But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he has avoided jail after being deemed a low risk or reoffending.

Prosecuting, Chris O’Gorman said: “Officers attended the address just after 5pm on September 8 last year. They arrested him and two devices were seized.”

The court heard officers found with all three category images on a Samsung mobile phone.

They also discovered three category A videos showing children being raped or tortured

Mr O’Gorman continued: “All were inaccessible and had been downloaded on April 18 and July 29. There were further images that were not unlawful but indicated an interest in the sexual abuse of children.

“Some of the children were as young as six. He answered no comment in interview. He is 33 years old with no previous convictions.”

Littler, of Mansfield Close, Clayton, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children.

Littler was sentenced to a 24-month community order, and 80 hours of unpaid work

Judge Sally Hancox told him: “You are like so many others who find yourself before this court because police officers came to your home. There were children aged around six years old.