Sheffield dad caught with over 100 indecent images of children avoids jail
A dad from Sheffield was caught with over 100 indecent images of children
A dad-of-three from Sheffield who was caught with over 100 indecent images of children on his phone has avoided jail.
Tony Farrer, of Orpen Way, Norton, was caught by police after they searched his house after discovering an online account linked to him that had indecent images of children.
Samuel Ponniah, prosecuting, told Sheffield Crown Court that 41-year-old Farrer was in an online chatroom for porn, where users can share messages, photos and videos.
On December 17, 2024, police searched his home and seized two devices.
Mr Ponniah said: “One was found in a box under his bed and one was in his possession.”
The devices were found to have around 120 indecent images of children, as well as “extreme pornographic” images relating to bestiality, the court heard.
Farrer’s offending began in August 2020 and continued up until the end of 2024 when he was arrested.
Farrer was charged with making category A, B and C indecent images of children, as well as possessing images depicting humans in sexual activity with animals.
He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
Chris Aspinall, defending, said after his arrest Farrer “had to move away from the family home”.
He works full time, often doing overtime.
Addressing the judge, Mr Aspinall questioned whether unpaid work was “necessary”, because Farrer has to work so much overtime just to “keep the family’s head above water”.
He said: “It’s them that will suffer, not him if he can’t do the overtime.”
Judge Tony Dunne told Farrer that making and viewing images of children being sexually abused can result in “sexual abuse of real children or abuse of vulnerable adults”.
He recognised the defendant's “previous good character” and the delay of his sentencing since he was arrested.
Judge Dunne said: “This has been hanging over you for almost two years. These offences will have had a devastating effect on your family life.”
But this is “entirely expected in this kind of offence”, the judge added.
He jailed him for eight months, suspended for 18 months.
He must carry out 50 hours of unpaid work over 18 months.
Farrer was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years, which prohibits him from using any device which has access to the internet, and allows police to install monitoring technology.