A MAN caught with indecent images of children as young as six months old told police he had been sent a link on social media which led to “dodgy stuff” appearing on his phone.

Judge William Mousley KC told offender Kyle Anthony Stevens that his claim he was only interested in adult pornography was not supported by the evidence in the case.

Police found 125 indecent moving images of children and a further 13 images of extreme pornography on the defendant’s phone.

Stevens, 24 and of Russell Drive, Christchurch, appeared before Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing having previously pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children and one offence of possessing extreme pornography.

Prosecuting, Stuart Ellacott said: “Local police were notified by the National Crime Agency that an email address which related to this defendant had been involved with indecent images of children.”

Bournemouth Echo:

Officers attended his home on April 13 and arrested the defendant. Police seized an Apple iPhone and a computer.

Mr Ellacott said on the phone they found 95 category A indecent images (the most serious level), 22 category B images and 11 category C images. The age of the children in the images ranged from six months to 15 years.

The prosecutor said they were all moving images and all of them were accessible on the device, with them downloaded between December 2017 and April 2021.

In police interview, Stevens said he had two Twitter accounts – one which was for every day use and one which was used to look at adult pornography.

He suggested to officers he had been talking to someone who sent him a link, which he clicked on and “dodgy stuff” popped up before he closed it.

Mr Ellacott said this claim did not stand up against the full evidence.

Police found from studying the phone that there were search terms for “jail bait” and record of there being a conversation with others involving discussions of bestiality.

The prosecutor said there was a “sexualised chat” with someone who claimed they are aged just 15.

Mitigating, Nick Robinson said Stevens, who had no previous convictions, is vulnerable and would struggle in custody.

“It is something that has been hanging over the family and Kyle Stevens has felt very bad about that,” Mr Robinson said. “He has brought shame on himself and his family.”

The barrister said the defendant knows there are issues that he needs to gain insight on, but he had already voluntarily engaged with two agencies – the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Stop It Now.

The court heard the defendant provided signficant care support for his mother and brother.

Mr Robinson asked the judge to spare Stevens a custodial sentence to allow him to get the support needed to be rehabilitated and prevent reoffending in the future.

Judge Mousley KC said he could issue a community order as there was punishment in the community available, Stevens could be rehabilitated outside of prison to reduce the likelihood of committing further offences and the defendant had demonstrated his willingness to get help.

Stevens was issued with a three-year community order, with requirements to carry out a 36-day sex offender programme, up to 25 rehabilitation activity days and 140 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant was issued with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

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