Shamed Sheffield family man lost his job after downloading indecent images of children

Sheffield Crown Court heard on April 15 how Christopher Gregory, aged 38, of Gleadless Road, Sheffield, was caught by police with nine category A, five category B and 15 category C images on a laptop.

Prosecuting barrister Gordon Stables said police had executed a search warrant at Gregory’s former Sheffield home after information had been received that the internet at that address had been used to access indecent images of children.

Recorder Simon Kealey QC told Gregory: “Police attended your home in July, 2019, following information that indecent images of children were being downloaded from that address.”

Mr Stables added that a laptop was found to have indecent images upon it with youngsters aged between six and 15-years-old.

Gregory, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images concerning category A, B and C images from between April and July, 2019, with category A being the most serious.

Joy Merriam, defending, said only a small amount of images had been accessed on two occasions and that Gregory had accessed others’ computers and had downloaded the images out of curiosity and thought he could delete them.

Ms Merriam said Gregory is remorseful and disgusted with himself and following his arrest he has lost his job and has not been allowed to live with his family.

She added: “Being apart from his family for such an extended period of time has, of course, taken its toll upon him as has the sense of shame.”

Ms Merriam said: “Curiosity and folly have brought Mr Gregory to this position. A convicted sex-offender having to live away from his family and facing a custodial sentence.”

However, Recorder Simon Kealey QC, sentenced Gregory to eight months of custody suspended for 12 months with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Gregory was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

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