"It wasn't Hollywood, it wasn't make believe, it was real children,” judge tells child porn man

Richard Bolton's computers were seized by police officers when they raided his home in Conisbrough, Doncaster, with a search warrant, on February 7, last year, said prosecutor Nicola Quinney.

In total, 52 Category A images, 20 Category B images, and 203 Category C images, where A is the most extreme, were discovered on four electronic devices, along with 43 prohibited extreme porn images.

Amy Earnshaw, mitigating, said Bolton, of previous good character, made full and frank admissions in his second interview with police officers.

"The offences were linked to his learning difficulties," she said. "He presents as having traits of autism, learning difficulties and depression."

Developmental problems in his brain made him more intellectually akin to someone half his biological age, Sheffield Crown Court heard on November 6.

Bolton is "extremely naive and vulnerable," said Ms Earnshaw, and he was "isolated" because he had not left the family home for many years following a period where he was bullied.

"He has never experienced any proper adult relationships. The author of the probation report feels that this combination of factors have led to this offending. But work can be done with him.

"His father has ensured he has no access to the internet. He is deeply ashamed of what he has done.

"He appreciates he has put the whole family through a traumatic experience."

Bolton, aged 30, of Buckingham Road, pleaded guilty to possession of extreme pornography, and making indecent images of children, when he appeared at Doncaster Magistrates Court on October 16.

Judge Peter Kelson QC imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years, which bans White from having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16.

"I am supposed to start thinking about sending you to prison for 12 months," he said. "That is how serious those offences are.”

"It wasn't Hollywood, it wasn't make believe, it was real children."

He handed White a three-year community order, with 55 days of rehabilitation and 45 sessions on the sex offender treatment programme.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

Thank you to all who support local journalism with a digital or print subscription to The Star. The events of 2020 mean trusted, local journalism is more reliant than ever on your support. We couldn't do it without you. Subscribe here so we can keep campaigning on your behalf. Stay safe.