How a picture of a hairy hand brought this South Yorkshire paedophile to justice

Sheffield Crown Court heard on August 2 how Richard Ashley, aged 57, of Old Mill Lane, Thurgoland, Sheffield, was tracked to his partner’s address in Wortley, Sheffield, in September, 2016, after police established the internet there was being used to access indecent images of children.

Andrew Smith said: “The internet at an address was being used to access indecent images of children. He lived there with his partner and his computers and electronic devices were seized. It was immediately clear they contained indecent images of children.”

Ashley admitted downloading the images to police and to taking pictures at a campsite in France.

Mr Smith added police also discovered a picture of an adult hand and a boy taken in a camper van which was matched to the defendant’s camper van but Ashley initially refused to say anything regarding this matter.

Mr Smith said: “The picture of the offender’s hand was particularly and distinctively hairy as were the defendant’s hands. He consented for his hands to be photographed by the police.”

The court heard an expert gave evidence the hand matched the defendant’s hands.

Mr Smith said Ashley admitted taking the photos but claimed he could not recall when they were taken.

Ashley, who has no previous convictions pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of taking indecent photos, three counts of making indecent photos, and two counts of possessing indecent photos.

The offences included 7,450 category C images, 549 category B and 639 category A, with A being the most serious, and 146 category C moving-images and two category A moving-images.

Richard Canning, defending, said Ashley has poor health and has done everything to address his offending and there is genuine remorse.

He added: “He’s in a vulnerable group for Covid-19 and he’s petrified if he goes into prison he might well not come out.”

Judge Michael Slater sentenced Ashley to two-years of custody suspended for two-years with a 40-session programme and a rehabilitation requirement. He was made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must pay £1,750 costs.