[A] CARLISLE man has been sentenced for downloading indecent images of children which were described by a judge as “repellent”.
Alexander Coffin, 28, of Myddleton Street, had a six-month prison term suspended for two years after he admitted two offences. These were the making of 11 category B and 13 category C photographs of children – illegal acts which, Carlisle Crown Court heard, appeared to have been done over two days last year.
Thumbnail images were recovered after police attended Coffin’s address and seized a laptop. This was analysed and the images were found to be video clips “which had been watched and deleted”.
Judge James Adkin observed that the images were “repellent”. However, he considered detailed background information – including pre-sentence and psychiatric reports – about the defendant, and noted Coffin had “struggled with his mental health over the years”.
Judge Adkin also heard the probation service was willing to work with the defendant in a bid to reduce the future risk he posed.
Offering Coffin “one chance”, the judge also ordered him to complete a sex offender course, and a rehabilitation requirement. Coffin must sign the sex offenders’ register and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order – both for seven years.
