Blackpool sex offender jailed over child porn downloads

2:11pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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A convicted sex offender who downloaded more than 2,500 child porn images, has been jailed for four years.

David Winder was found to have both still images and video clips of an indecent nature when police searched his Blackpool home.

And when he is eventually released from jail he will be on an extended period of four years licence.

A judge imposing the extended sentence told the 48-year-old "It is the only way to ensure there are no further sexual offences, to keep an eye on you for as long as legally possible".

Winder had pleaded guilty to a total of 18 counts of making indecent photographs.

Preston Crown Court heard how police executed a search warrant at his home in Falkirk Avenue, Blackpool, last November.

Mr Richard Hunt, prosecuting, said a total of 2,672 such images were found.

Seven video clips of children were also discovered.

Most of the images - a figure of 1,884 - were of level one category - the least serious group.

A total of 24 images were at level five, the most serious category.

The court heard that 110,000 other images had also been stored on his computer equipment, but these had not been investigated by the police.

In a prepared statement to police, Winder said that he was solely responsible for the images recovered by the police.

He believed he had deleted images from his computer and had had no wish to retain them.

He had also said: "I feel deeply ashamed and upset about the whole matter".

Winder had previously been given a five year prison term at Preston Crown Court in February 2000, for five offences of indecently assaulting a female and one of taking indecent photographs.

He was therefore already on the sex offenders' register for an indefinite period when he committed his latest offences.

Defence barrister Mr Wayne Jackson said the police officer who viewed the images in the case was of the opinion that the age bracket of the victims in the photos was under sixteen, but not necessarily under thirteen years.

The defendant said he had deleted the images from the computer, though they were still on the hard-drive.

Mr Jackson told the court: "The defendant has lost everything in his life. He lost his job and he has lost his married life."

Counsel said Winder accepted full responsibility for the offences.

"The bottom line as far as he is concerned, is that there was some sexual gratification derived from looking at these pictures," added Mr Jackson.

Judge Robert Brown told the defendant: "These are very serious offences, offences which quite clearly merit custodial sentences".

He added: "It is encouraging that you do appear now to accept your responsibility and your motivation for the reasons why you committed these latest offences."

A sexual offences prevention order was made, barring Winder from associating with any child under sixteen, unless in the company of an adult, or with social services permission.