A Luton man who was caught with indecent images of children said they came from a mobile phone he found in a field.
Darren Freeman-Cox, 25, was arrested on June 30, 2023, when the police raided his home.
On two mobile phones and one laptop they found a total of 512 illegal images, Luton Crown Court was told on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Prosecutor Daniel Siong there were 220 at Category A, the most serious level, 189 at Category B and 101 at Category C.
There were also two images of extreme pornography, involving bestiality.
The images involved the abuse of children aged as young as five.
Search terms used were “synonymous with child abuse”, said Mr Siong.
Freeman-Cox of St Martin’s Avenue appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to three charges of downloading indecent images of children and one of possessing extreme pornography.
He was of previous good character.
Defending, Llewelyn Culver-Evans said: “He said he found a phone with the offending material on it.
“They had the search terms on it. He transferred a limit amount of the material onto his own devices.” Mr Culver-Evans said Freeman-Cox had difficulties in his life, having been diagnosed with autism.
After his arrest he said he had undertaken a course with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a child protection charity.
His barrister said Freeman-Cox understood the gravity of the case and would not let it happen again.
Recorder Stephen Lennard told him: “ For every photo, still or moving images, taken of a child, it requires a child to be involved. That child will have suffered abuse and damage.
“It is apparent from your conversations with the probation officer you do now recognise the damage caused.”
The judge went on: “These are very serious offences. You claim to have found the phone in a field – I find that difficult to accept.”
The judge sentenced him to a 24 month community order. He must attend 40 accredited programme sessions, 20 rehabilitation days and complete 180 hours’ unpaid work.
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