FOUR people have been sentenced for downloading indecent images of children as part of a continued crackdown by Essex Police.

In November last year, using an intelligence-led approach, a dedicated team of specialist officers have targeted those involved in the downloading taking and distribution of indecent images of children.

The team, working alongside and in support of Essex Police’s existing specialist Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (CAIT), executed 44 warrants and arrested 43 people.

Those recently sentenced include:

Gary Shortell

A man found with nearly 6,000 indecent images of children has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Acting on intelligence officers executed a warrant at the home of 45-year-old Gary Shortell in Asquith Gardens, Benfleet on February 22 this year.

They searched the home and seized various equipment including a laptop, memory and USB sticks and SD cards.

In total the equipment was found to contain: 120 Category A movies and photographs (Category A is the most serious category of abuse imagery) 266 Category B movies and photographs 5,563 Category C movies and photographs 1 extreme pornographic film Shortell admitted three counts of making indecent images of children when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday October 13.

He was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years, given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and was ordered to pay £250 costs and a £140 victim surcharge.

James Crudgington

A man found with nearly 5,000 indecent images of children has been made the subject of a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and Sex Offender Notice.

Officers executed a warrant at the home of 43-year-old James Crudginton in Drywoods, South Woodham Ferrers on March 29 this year.

They searched the home and seized a computer, hard drive, computer towers and USB sticks.

In total the equipment was found to contain: 546 Category A images and films (Category A is the most serious category of abuse imagery) 588 Category B images and films 3,758 Category C images and films He was charged with and pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court on October 27.

He was made the subject of a five-year SHPO and Sex Offender Notice, was given a three-year community order, was ordered to complete a 90 day rehabilitation programme and was ordered to pay £535 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Robert Copeland

A man found with more than 60 indecent images of children has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence.

Officers, acting on intelligence, executed a warrant at the home of 57-year-old Robert Copeland in Manor Road, Tilbury on November 29 last year.

They seized various equipment, including a computer tower and various hard drives.

The equipment was found to contain: 1 Category A film (Category A is the most serious category of abuse imagery) Six Category B films and photographs 55 Category C images and films He was charged and pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children when he appeared at Southend Crown Court on November 8.

Copeland was given a six-month jail term suspended for two years, was made the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, was ordered to complete a 60-day rehabilitation requirement and to sign the Sex Offenders Register. He was also ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.

Darren Thorne

A man found with nearly 1,000 indecent images of children has been jailed for 18-months.

Acting on intelligence officers from Management of Sexual and Violent Offenders, a team that monitor and manage individuals convicted of sexual offences, executed a warrant at the home of 37-year-old Darren Thorne in Beach Road, Clacton on May 25 last year.

They seized equipment including a mobile phone and various tablets. The investigation was passed on to the specialist officers to continue the enquiries.

The equipment was found to contain: 268 Category A images and films (Category A is the most serious category of abuse imagery) 212 Category B images and films 416 Category C images and films 42 extreme and prohibited pornographic images Thorne was charged and pleaded guilty with three counts of making indecent images of children and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 8.

He was jailed for 18-months and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Det Sgt Ashley Howard, who is leading the specialist team behind the crackdown, said: “Every time an indecent image of a child is viewed or distributed online, that child continues to be exploited.

“We cannot and will not tolerate this type of crime and we will continue to use all the tools available to us to proactively target those committing this offence.

“If you are downloading, viewing or distributing indecent images of children I urge you to consider the harm your behaviour is causing to children. We will catch up with you and ensure you are accountable for your actions.

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which is the only UK-wide child protection charity focused solely on preventing child sexual abuse, offers support to adults concerned about their sexual thoughts and behaviour towards children.

The charity runs Stop it Now! – a child sexual abuse prevention campaign and helplineFor more information on how Stop it Now! helps people address their online behaviour, please visit the website www.stopitnow.org.uk or call the confidential Stop it Now! Helpline on 0808 1000 900.