A Penrith man confessed to having memory cards containing child sexual abuse images when police went to check on his welfare.
Concern over 30-year-old Matthew Peter David Chewter’s mental health prompted officers to visit his Albert Street flat on April 21 last year.
“It was quite apparent that the defendant was delusional when police got to his property,” prosecutor Rachael Woods told Carlisle Crown Court today.
“He was making suggestions he had a bomb in the flat and that there was writing on the wall.
“And so the police tried to assist the defendant who then told officers that he had three memory cards taped to the inside of a fan which contained illegal images.”
These were found within an air purifier inside a cupboard and had been there for about four weeks.
They were seized and analysed. Four indecent images classed in category A — the most serious — were found along with 14 category C pictures and 108 extreme pornographic images.
“In interview he admitted that the cards were his, that he knew there were images of children on them,” said Ms Woods.
“He had accessed these images through his mobile phone, which is a smart phone, and admitted he had been responsible for hiding them.
“He didn’t want them to be found.”
At the time of the offending he had been heavily dependant on alcohol, the court heard, and that had affected his recollection.
Chewter admitted making indecent photographs of a child, and possessing the extreme pornographic images.
Recorder Richard Archer considered a probation service assessment and a psychiatric report.
He noted Chewter had significant mental health difficulties, had been diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia and was currently currently receiving care at a specialist hospital ward.
Recorder Archer imposed a three-year community order.
This, he said, would offer Chewter help and assistance with his issues, aim to achieve rehabilitation through an activity requirement and prevent him from committing further crimes.
Chewter must comply with the sex offender notification requirements for five years, and abide by the strict terms of a prevention order restricting his access to the internet.
