Irchester paedophile claimed he downloaded sick images to catch others out

He said he had no sexual interest in children
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A paedophile caught with more than 100 vile images of child abuse claimed he only downloaded them to catch other perverts out.

Paul Norman, 64, told a probation worker he was actually going to share the information with police when he was caught out in August last year.

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But he backtracked on his claim at Northampton Crown Court on Thursday (October 15) when a judge considered putting his sentencing back to decide whether he was telling the truth. He was later spared jail.

Northampton Crown Court.Northampton Crown Court.
Northampton Crown Court.

Norman was arrested at his home in Pine Close, Irchester, after police received intelligence that indecent images of children were being downloaded there.

A phone and a tablet were seized with 123 sick files discovered, 12 of which were videos. Of the 123 files five were in category A - the most severe - with 24 in category B and 70 in category C. Officers also found 24 extreme pornographic images.

They also found evidence that he had distributed a total of 64 files between February and June last year. In interview he admitted sharing the images on Kik messenger, Whatsapp and Facebook.

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He said he had no sexual interest in children and that he was only doing it to satisfy other men that asked for them, after meeting them on dating sites and in lay-bys.

But prosecutor Priya Bakshi said: "He spoke to others regularly about the abuse of children."

Norman, who wiped tears from his eyes in the dock, later admitted all charges facing him when he first appeared before magistrates.

The court heard he had since helped police by giving them details which had led to the arrest and interview of others.

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Mitigating, Divya Puri said Norman was fearful of leaving his home and urged Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane to suspend any prison sentence so he could be rehabilitated.

She said: "He does feel very deeply remorseful and ashamed of this offending."

Sentencing, Judge Crane told Norman his claim he had no sexual interest in children was "clearly untrue".

She said: "It's something you are going to have to confront going forward."

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Norman's 10-month prison sentence was suspended for 18 months.

He will have to take part in rehabilitation requirements and will be on the register for sex offenders for 10 years.

A hearing to determine a sexual harm prevention order was adjourned to November 5.

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