Sheffield man caught with 75,000 indecent images on computer escapes jail

Anthony Read, aged 46, of Sicey Avenue, Firth Park, Sheffield, was given a suspended sentence – despite having images that included ‘very young children’.

Sheffield Crown Court heard police found thousands of indecent images on Read’s computer after getting a warrant to search his home in May 2014.

The illegal pornography included 73,293 ‘Category C’ images, 1,108 ‘Category B’ images and 444 ‘Category A’ images, which are classified as the most serious.

The Judge Her Honour Judge Jacqueline Davies told Read: “When people like you access this material, you are abusing the children indirectly.

“If there wasn’t a market for people like you, these children wouldn’t be exposed to this kind of abuse, which is shocking.”

But she said that having carefully considered the case, a prison sentence would not be necessary.

Read was given a sentence of six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

He will also be required to participate in a sex offender’s programma. He will also have to pay £200 court costs.

Judge Davies said Read had been in custody for three days awaiting his sentence so would know what to expect if he breaches the terms of his sentence and is sent to prison as a result.

She told him: “The positive way forward is for you to be working with people who will help you.”