Ipswich man avoids jail after admitting to making indecent images of children
He admitted to making over a thousand indecent images of children.
A man from Ipswich has avoided prison after admitting to making over a thousand indecent images of children.
56 year-old Christopher Welham of St Georges Street was given three months in prison, suspended for two years at Ipswich Crown Court on Wednesday 14th July.
It's after he pleaded guilty to four offences earlier this year, of making indecent photographs and being in possession of prohibited images.
It first came to light in January 2019 when Welham was being investigated for a separate harassment offence.
That enquiry led to police seizing his mobile phone to access text messages, on receipt of the phone the Digital Forensic Unit discovered images.
The offences took place on or before 1 November 2019 and consisted of four counts - making indecent photographs of a child, namely 28 images and 51 videos of a child under category A; making indecent photographs 34 images and 48 videos of a child under category B; making indecent photographs of a child namely 1,333 images and 21 videos under category C, and fourthly being in possession of 40 prohibited images and 15 prohibited videos of a child.
Investigating officer DC Leia Dowsing said: "When this offending first came to light Welham at first explained he denied downloading them and couldn't explain how they were found on his phone.
"However, the weight of evidence against him ultimately led to his guilty plea. Internet crimes such as these are far from victimless and every image depicts the very real abuse a young child has suffered.
"We will do everything within our power to protect victims who are subjected to these potentially life changing acts of indecency purely for the gratification of others."
As well as a suspended sentence, Welham must also take part in a rehabilitation programme, has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.