A PERVERT caught with indecent images of children for a second time was blasted by a judge after claiming to have no sexual interest in children.
Christopher Yates, of St Pauls Street, Worcester - who was convicted of similar matters in 2003 - had previously admitted having more than 1,000 indecent images of children.
The former delivery driver, who is now unemployed, appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, (March 1).
Simon Phillips, prosecuting, said police searched the home of the 71-year-old on November 8, 2022, and officers' attention was brought to a laptop.
Further analysis of the device later revealed the full extent of his offending.
Yates pleaded guilty at Worcester Magistrates Court last month to making 195 category A images, the worst level identified within the sentencing guidelines.
Yates also admitted having 401 category B images and 405 category C images.
The offences took place between January 16, 2022, and November 8, 2022, the prosecutor saying there was evidence Yates had tried to delete images.
Mr Philips said the case was aggravated by Yates' previous conviction which dated back to 2004 and that the ages of the children showed some were as young as 12-months-old.
In interview Yates admitted viewing images once or twice a week but denied having a sexual interest in children.
"He said he viewed naturist material which included children, which makes him feel confident to go naked," the prosecutor said.
"He claimed he searched for naturism equally with children and adults in".
Jason Aris, defending, said the probation service had identified Yates as someone they could work with and could be rehabilitated, and had no objection to court orders being made.
Sentencing him, His Honour Judge James Burbidge KC, the Honorary Recorder of Worcester, said: "You have said you have no sexual interest in children - I don't know who you are trying to kid.
"You are interested in paedophilia - that is of great concern to this court.
"You must understand this - each time you download an image of a child being abused that encourages others to abuse children.
"There is a real victim."
The judge said that "perhaps unusually" in a case of a defendant being caught a second time he was going to give Yates an 18-month community order.
But the judge warned Yates he was reserving any breaches of the order to himself adding further offending would lead to him going to prison.
Yates was told to complete 55 rehabilitation activity days and pay £400 costs.
Yates was placed on a lifetime sexual harm prevention order, restricting his internet use, and continues to sign the sex offenders register.
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