A MAN who admitted possessing an indecent image of a child and pornographic images involving animals has been warned by a judge a community order was not a “soft option”.
Lewis Vines admitted one count of possession of an indecent image of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and possessing 78 extreme pornographic images involving animals.
Amiee Parkes, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court, said the 33-year-old had uploaded a category B image to social network site Kik on June 14, 2019.
She said the image was flagged on the internet as an indecent image, and the email and mobile phone for the account was traced back to Vines.
The prosecutor said the police arrived to arrest Vines on January 10, 2020, with officers attending an address in Malvern Vines had moved to.
“The defendant was arrested, cautioned and made no reply,” Miss Parkes said.
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Devices were seized but Vines had attempted to hide his mobile phone in an airing cupboard before confessing to police where it was.
Stephen Hamblett, defending, said Vines had been drinking and taking drugs at the time of the offending following the end of a relationship.
“He has managed to turn things around, he no longer takes illegal substances,” Mr Hamblett said.
“He is doing well. He knows he will have to be punished for the things he did.”
Mr Hamblett also pointed to a pre-sentence report that showed Vines had a “realistic prospect” of rehabilitation and was considered a low risk of reoffending.
'There are reports of these offences in newspapers' judge tells Lewis Vines
Sentencing Vines, Judge Martin Jackson said although he had been drinking and taking drugs at the time Vines must have been aware it was illegal activity.
“There are reports (regularly) in local newspapers about these kinds of offences,” the judge said.
The judge said it was not a victimless crime as real children were in the pictures and Vines, of Tanhouse Lane, Malvern, was helping to fuel the illegal trade.
Telling him he would be getting a three-year community order instead of jail time, the judge said it was not a “soft option” as it would be tough, and would be addressing the offending behaviour.
Vines was told he would have to complete 55 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours unpaid work.
Vines was handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order and told he must sign the sex offenders register.
The case was heard on Tuesday, (June 21).
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