[A] FORMER soldier has been sentenced for a string of online crimes – and stealing children’s underwear.
Paul Douglas Bailey, 46, was said to have brought “great shame on himself” by committing offences which emerged after Cumbria police were tipped off by another force.
Officers seized electronic devices from his Linton Street home in Carlisle, along with children’s underwear – some of which Bailey had stolen. Illegal images of children, including a video classed in category A, the most serious, were recovered from a tablet and laptop.
Bailey admitted making indecent photographs of children, theft and eight counts of publishing an obscene article. These eight, prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court, related to “obscene social media conversations about the abuse of children”.
Formerly a soldier with a “distinguished” 24-year Army career, and latterly attached to the Territorial Army, Bailey was said to be “genuinely sorry” for crimes he committed while going through “emotional turmoil”.
Noting Bailey posed a “low risk” of re-offending, Judge Forrester suspended an eight-month jail term for two years. He must complete rehabilitation, was placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years, and must abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.
