A man who downloaded illegal images of children while working as a student police officer has given a community order and will have to sign the sex offender register.
Thomas Aiston, a 35-year-old who has since resigned from the force, was arrested and charged after information was passed to Cumbria police by an external law enforcement agency.
Enquiries led to Aiston who, at the time, was a student officer having joined Cumbria Constabulary in March, 2024.
A number of electronic devices were seized, examined and, from that analysis, it emerged that illegal images had been downloaded between November 18 2024 and April 25 this year.
There were 11 images in total, a prosecutor told Carlisle Magistrates’ Court. Two of these were classed as category A — the most serious.
Aiston, of Bowland Drive, Kendal, admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of a child.
In a formal basis of plea he submitted there were only six illegal images. This was not accepted by the prosecution.
However, district judge John McGarva concluded this would make no material difference to the sentence he imposed.
Defence lawyer Laura Baumanis, mitigating, said Aiston offered his apology to the court.
A long-standing pornography addiction had spiralled with the number of images viewed having desensitised him. “That is no excuse,” said Ms Baumanis, who described the loss of Aiston’s good character having long-standing implications for him.
Aiston, a dad-of-two, was initially suspended from his job following arrest, and had later handed in his notice.
The probation service concluded they could work with Aiston, who was backed by a large bundle of character references.
“Mr Aiston is a gentleman who very much recognises the impact of his actions — not just on himself but those very close to him,” said Ms Baumanis.
District judge McGarva concluded there was an element of minimisation and denial by Aiston when discussing the issue of sexual interest in children with a probation officer.
“If you are going to overcome these issues for good, you need more understanding of your position and more acceptance of what you have done,” said the judge.
Aiston received a two-year community order, must complete rehabilitation work and was fined £300.
He must sign the sex offender register and abide by the strict terms of a prevention order, both for five years.
“These are not victimless crimes,” the judge told him. “The children in these images are victims of sexual abuse. They would be less likely to be abused if there wasn’t a market for these images.”
- When asked after the court hearing about any ongoing internal disciplinary proceedings, a Cumbria police spokesman said these would only commence following the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.
