A County Durham man who was found in possession of indecent images of children and extreme pornography has avoided jail.
Kane Ennis was found with a hoard of indecent material when police turned up to his home on August 4, 2020, and when arrested, he told officers: "It's on my PC". The 30-year-old appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced for possessing indecent images, possessing prohibited images and possessing extreme pornographic images.
Jonathan Gittins, prosecuting, said police officers went to Ennis' home at around 7.30am to arrest him over the indecent images. He said: "Upon arrest, the defendant said, 'It's on my PC, to be honest it was more out of curiosity more than anything'." Four of his electronic devices were seized and a number of indecent and prohibited images were discovered.
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In total, 11 category A, 14 category B, and 29 category C indecent images of children were found, along with five extreme pornographic images and 76 prohibited images of children. The court heard that some images were downloaded as far back as October 2018 and browser searches relating to indecent and extreme porn images were found.
Mr Gittins added: "The defendant was interviewed and agreed that he made comments upon arrest and said he knew it was illegal to have them. He said he would delete the images after a short period of time and said he had become addicted to pornography." The court was told that Ennis had no previous convictions. His defence barrister told the court he had nothing to add in terms of mitigation, after Recorder Benjamin Nolan QC indicated he would impose a suspended sentence.
Sentencing Ennis, of Wylam Street, Stanley, Recorder Nolan QC, said: "It's clear that children in these images were very young and being very badly abused. People like you who visit these indecent image online should appreciate that for every single image, there is probably a badly abused and emotionally affected child."
Ennis was given a 10 month prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 40 rehabilitation activity days. A 10 year sexual harm prevention order was made and he will be on the sex offender's register for 10 years.
