Telford factory worker had indecent images

David Follette, 50, had attempted to prevent police tracing the material by having anti-forensic software loaded into his machine.

Follette was given a community order which includes a 36-month rehabilitation programme for sex offending and alcohol treatment when he appeared for sentencing at Shrewsbury Crown Court. In addition he was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years and must be on the sex offenders register for five years.

Judge Peter Barrie said the offence was aggravated by a previous conviction for similar activity and that he had made it difficult for the police to trace the material. However, he said he had taken into account that Follette had been held in custody for just over three months.

Follette, of High Street, Hadley, Telford, had pleaded guilty to nine charges of possession of indecent photographs and moving images at an earlier hearing.

Mr Martin Butterworth, prosecuting, said that acting on intelligence police had raided the defendant's home in October last year. The images had been deleted and because of the sophisticated software it some time to recover the 309 still and moving indecent images on the defendant's computer. He said that 55 images were of the most serious nature and featured children under the age 10 and some who were less than five years old.

Mr Butterworth said

that Follette was part of a file sharing network and in 2005 had received a community rehabilitation order for possession and distribution of indecent images.

Mr Brendan Reedy, for Follette, said his client had changed his behaviour after 2005 but had been faced with financial difficulties and turned to drink and this latest event had been "a relapse" and he could not recall downloading the material.