Ellesmere child porn man, 68, in 'fall from grace'

Michael Amos, 68, of Church Street, Ellesmere, was given a suspended prison sentence when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing in the magistrates court to three charges of making indecent photographs of a child – 42 category A images (the most serious), 86 category B images and 169 category C images.

Judge Anthony Lowe sentenced Amos to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to attend behaviour change and alcohol treatment days.

Amos was also placed on the sex offenders register and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order banning him from using any device capable of logging on to the internet unless he notified police or his monitoring officer.

Judge Lowe was told that Amos’s wife had left him.

“You have lost your wife and your reputation. That is part of your punishment, that is what happens to people when these offences come to light,” he said.

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said police used a search warrant at Amos’s address in February last year. Amos handed them a USB key which was found to have adult porn and pornographic images of children on it.

“A number of other devices including two laptops and a computer were seized,” she said.

She said that the devices had a self-cleaning programme installed but it had not worked.

“Amos told police had be downloaded images over the past 10 years, less frequently in recent times.”

Danny Smith for Amos said his client has shown remorse and shame and had sought counselling for his actions.

“He was once the pillar of his local community. Now his wife has left him and his landlord has refused to extend his tenancy. He known that he only has himself to blame,” he said.

Mr Smith said Amos intended to move out of the area and live elsewhere.

Judge Lowe said: “Child pornography in its extreme form is second-hand abuse of these children and hopefully you now recognise that. Every time they are viewed through a screen it is no different to being in a voyeurism stadium seeing that abuse for yourself.”