Child porn man from Horwich asked about meet-up with youth

A HORWICH man caught with child pornography who asked about meeting a child for sexual activity has been spared jail â€" because a judge said the public interest was “better served” by supervision.

Bolton Crown Court heard Jake Duffy came to the attention of police when he shared an indecent image on a messaging platform.

Officers visited his home, where he alerted them to two mobile devices, one of which was found to contain indecent images of children.

Peter Connick, prosecuting, said: “There were 25 category A images, six category B images, and nine category C. He also had possession of five prohibited images of children.”

He said the most serious images included videos of an adult engaged in sexual activity with a three-year-old.

He also revealed disturbing messages sent by Duffy where he appeared to be enquiring about sexual activity with a child on Whatsapp.

Mr Connick added: “There is evidence the defendant expressed a sexual interest in children with another user.”

When asked how young he would be acceptable to him he said “anything other than a baby.”

Some files sent via Whatsapp indicated Duffy may have shared material with others even if he had not been charged with this.

Duffy, 27, of Hilton Avenue, had admitted three counts of downloading indecent images and one count of possessing prohibited images of children between August 2013 and October 2019.

Andrew Costello, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had co-operated with the police when they attended at the scene.

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Walsh said lengthier supervision was preferable so a prison sentence would not be imposed.

He said: “These are not victimless crimes. The images show real abuse of real children.

“It seems to me the greatest degree of public protection is afforded by with the term of a community order for a period of three years."

Duffy was also given 40 rehab activity days and must sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

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