July 2023

Orford paedophile spared jail at Liverpool Crown Court

AN Orford paedophile was in possession of more than 150 disgusting images of children as young as five years old.

John Newton, of Watkin Street, Orford, said the sick material, which included a person performing a sex act on an animal, automatically downloaded to his phone after he was sent them on Kik.

He appeared before Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday after pleading guilty to possessing extreme pornographic images, three counts of making indecent photographs of children, and possessing indecent photographs of a child.

Here, prosecutor Paul Blasbery said a warrant was originally carried out at an address on Costwold Road in Orford September 2022 after officers received intelligence.

Mr Blasbery told the court how Newton was interviewed by police where he told them they would not find any indecent images or videos.

He said he had received them on Kik but had not watched them and deleted them.

But analysis of the 41-year-old’s two mobile phones revealed 152 indecent photographs and videos of children as young as five years old. Newton was subsequently reinterviewed.

Liverpool Crown Court was told how in total, the following material was found:

• 41 category A images – the most severe category

• 65 category B images

• 46 category C images

• Two extreme pornographic images

• Two extreme pornographic videos

During this interview, Newton, who has no previous convicitons, told officers how the pictures and videos had automatically downloaded when someone else sent him them.

Newton received an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 21 months and must complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was issued with a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, as well as being subjected to notification requirements for this period.

After passing sentence, judge Stuart Driver KC said: “It is very likely that if I see you again I will be sending you to custody.”