Corby paedophile's failed bid to keep his identity secret

A Corby paedophile who downloaded 5,000 vile images of children failed in a last-minute bid to keep his identity secret.

Alexander Bailey, 56, made an application before Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) to prevent the Northants Telegraph from reporting his name.

His legal representative Caroline Stewart said he was vulnerable and "incredibly concerned about repercussions" - but Judge Crane blocked the request because it did "not amount to good reason", citing the principle of open justice.

The court heard police, acting on intelligence, raided his York Road home at about 10am on November 26, 2016.

They seized two laptops and found thousands of images of child abuse dating from between May 2014, including some depicting babies and toddlers.

In total 5,150 files were recovered - 543 in category A (the most severe), 643 in category B and 3,964 in category C. Of those files more than 350 were videos. Search terms also recovered showed evidence he had been seeking images of young boys.

When he was interviewed Bailey admitted viewing the images and said he had been doing it for years.

Prosecuting, Ben Gow said: "He said he did not get any sexual gratification from them and he said he was not sure why he kept them."

The paedophile said he had been on a Russian website and had been "bombarded" with images.

He also admitted getting rid of a hard drive just weeks before he was arrested. He later pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one charge involving extreme pornography at Northampton Magistrates' Court.

Mitigating, Ms Stewart said Bailey had since stopped using the internet as much as possible.

She added: "This is one of those cases where there is a sufficient prospect of rehabilitation."

Sentencing, Judge Crane told the disgraced paedophile: "You have denied a sexual interest in children...it seems to me that you are not being honest with yourself."

Bailey was sentenced to a three-year community order with rehabilitation requirements.

He must take part in the Horizon programme, a scheme designed for sex offenders, and has been barred from working with children.

He will also be on the register for sex offenders for five years and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

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