A YOUNG Workington man who had shocking illegal images of young children – including babies on his phone had been sentenced by a judge.
Twenty-year-old Jordan Laybourne’s offending came to light after police visited his home at dawn on January 23 this year.
They seized an iPhone containing a total of 684 illegal images of children, including 194 classed in category A – the most serious. “A large number of images featured especially young children between birth and one year old,” prosecutor Gerard Rogerson told Carlisle Crown Court.
Laybourne, of Honister Drive, remained entirely silent throughout two police interviews but later admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of children between November 3 last year and January 21.
The court heard of his personal and medical difficulties, how he resorted to drink and cocaine after a relationship broke down and was sent the illegal images after exploring online pornography “towards the outer boundaries” and downloading an app.
“These proceedings have been a salutary lesson for him,” said Judith McCullough, defending. “”He tells the court that curiosity got the better of him, coupled with his judgement being clouded by the use of alcohol and drugs.” She added: “He understands fully what he did was wrong.”
Concluding that prison would not be in the best interests of Laybourne – or society in general – Recorder Jeremy Lasker suspended a nine-month jail term for two years. He must complete an accredited sex offender course, rehabilitation requirement, and sign both the sex offenders’ register and follow the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
“Although you plainly weren’t the perpetrator of these tiny (child abuse) victims, you are part of the chain that leads back, ultimately, to that terrible behaviour,” said Recorder Lasker.
