Man caught with more than 1,000 indecent images of children
A police officer who helped to bring a man caught with more than 1,000 indecent images of children to justice has welcomed his conviction and sentence.
Andrew Morris, 24, has been sentenced to a three-year community order and has been put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
He had initially denied making 98 Category A indecent photographs meaning the most serious images, 282 Category B photographs and a further 877 Category C images between July 2014 and March last year.
But pleaded guilty at a hearing at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
After the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Joanne Delahay, of West Mercia Police, said he was satisfied with the sentence handed down by the court.
He said: “A child is victimised not only when they are abused and an image is taken – they are re-victimised every time that image is viewed by someone.
“This case sends a clear message that the internet is not a safe anonymous space for downloading indecent images of children.
“Those that access such images should know that they can and will be traced.”
For the crimes Morris, from Shropshire, must also attend a sex offenders’ programme and 40 rehabilitation activity days.
A further charge of possession of 332 prohibited images of children has been allowed to lie on file by the judge at the hearing.
An order was made to prevent the disclosure of Morris' address.
The force said anyone with concerns about someone’s online activity should report it to the non-emergency line on 101.
Advice is also available on the West Mercia or Dyfed-Powys Police websites.
You can also report concerns via the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) website, which can be found at: ceop.police.uk
Other available services include the child protection charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Operation Safenet.
