A PENSIONER who downloaded indecent images of children has been spared immediate prison.
A computer was seized from 70-year-old Allan Alexander Floyd’s home and he was arrested, in November 2017, after Cumbria police received information from another force.
Floyd was found to have downloaded seven indecent child images classed in category A – the most serious – plus 12 in category B and 28 of category C.
Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone told Carlisle Crown Court: “Other investigations of that computer revealed a significant number of search terms used by this defendant when looking for such material.”
Some images showed children of a “tender age”.
Floyd, of Blencathra View, Threlkeld, admitted making and possessing indecent photographs of children.
Mark Shepherd, defending, said Floyd felt he had made “substantial progress” in addressing his offending, adding: “This is a man who has lost his good character as a result of these convictions.”
Judge James Adkin heard Floyd was deemed to pose a “low risk” of re-offending, and his rehabilitation prospects were “good”. As a result, a six-month jail term was suspended for two years.
Floyd must complete rehabilitation, sign the sex offenders’ register and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order – both for seven years – and pay £1,200 costs.
“It is likely the public would be kept safe if you are out of custody and carefully monitored in the community,” said Judge Adkin.
But he told Floyd: “You need to understand that the material that you were watching depicted real children being sexually abused, causing them significant physical and emotional long-term damage.”
