Northamptoshire man downloaded indecent images of children after watching adult pornography

Joel Smith, of Edgell Street, Kettering, has admitted viewing 92 indecent photographs, including 36 in the most serious category of child abuse, between October 2010 and September 2013.

Northampton Crown Court heard Smith’s laptop was seized by police on September 26, 2013 after information was passed on to officers from West Midlands Police.

Smith initially claimed that the indecent images of children had been downloaded by mistake after watching adult pornography.

But at Northampton Magistrates’ Court last month he pleaded guilty to possessing the indecent images.

Catherine Howell, mitigating, said her client was someone who had viewed adult pornography and then moved on to images of child abuse.

His Honour Judge Timothy Smith said the images were of children of a number of ages who were the victims of sexual exploitation.

Smith was given a three-year community order including the requirement he completes the sexual offenders’ treatment programme.

Judge Smith also imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and he must sign the Sex Offenders’ register.