A Kendal man has been sentenced by a judge after he downloaded images showing the sexual abuse of children.
Frank Thomas James Evans, 32, was visited by police at his home at 6-20am on May 18, 2020. Evans was arrested on suspicion of making illegal images. During a search, iPhones, an iPad and laptop were seized and when taken into custody, he stated: “I only look at pictures and would never touch a child.”
Carlisle Crown Court heard 1,026 indecent photographs of children classed in category A — the most serious — were found, along with 842 in category B and 1,043 category C.
Evans, of Sandes Avenue, admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of children, possessing 44 extreme pornographic images and having one prohibited picture. He had no previous convictions.
Rosalind Emsley-Smith, defending, said Evans had been “really very lonely” during the 13 months when his crimes were committed. Left “heartbroken” 10 years earlier, he had failed to engage in intimate or loving relationships since.
Yet Evans had now reached the point of insight and stark realisation about his criminal conduct and the plight of those featured in the images and, said his barrister Rosalind Emsley-Smith, a “deep sense of shame”.
Recorder Kate Bex QC suspended a 14-month jail term for two years. Evans must complete a rehabilitation requirement, 100 hours’ unpaid work and was fined £500.
He must sign the sex offenders’ register and comply with a strict prevention order, both for 10 years.
