A man who was found with videos showing humans having sex with dogs has avoided a prison sentence.
Christopher Reid, 42, was arrested after police received intelligence that suggested an IP address at his home was being used to access indecent images. Officers went to the property shortly after 8am on November 24, 2021, and he was cautioned and arrested.
Prosecutor Robert Galley told Leeds Crown Court on Thursday: "He was arrested on suspicion of having indecent images and he replied 'I haven't done that.'"
Reid's mobile phone and laptop were seized for examination and it was found they were holding three extreme pornographic images. Mr Galley said: "Two young children were present in the video while an adult female has [sexual activity] with a dog. Further search terms showed he had an interest in such websites with animals.
"There was a chat log with a person called Lesley. He appeared to be contacting her about sexual images but sent to her an image of someone having sex with a dog."
In his police interview, Reid, of Shakespeare Road in Burmantofts, accepted he had various accounts on his computer and chat logs. Mr Galley said he was asked about the search terms regarding dogs and bestiality and he accepted there "may be some history on his devices from mental health issues."
The prosecutor said: "He said he relapsed and used drugs which lowers his inhibitions at times."
The court was told he had a "somewhat limited" record which related to drink or drug driving offences and handling stolen goods.
Mitigating, Ed Youlton, said Reid had a history of mental health issues and had referred himself to Forward Leeds for support for his drug issues. He said: "In 2019, he relapsed into drugs and started using them in small amounts. He had a long term relationship of around 10 years and his partner found out about the drugs and left him which led to him using drugs.
"2020 and 2021 was when his drug use was particularly bad."
Sign up for our Leeds Crime and Punishment newsletter. If you can't see the sign up link below, click here.
Forward Leeds confirmed the "good progress" Reid has made and said his methadone prescription has been reduced and has had shown a "positive attitude to addressing his issues." The court was told he had been a good father figure for his nephew, who was staying at his mother's house. It was said Reid's mother passed away late last year.
Reid had pleaded guilty to four counts of possession of extreme pornographic images before appearing in court on Thursday.
His Honour Judge Clark handed him an 18-month community order and told him he must undertake 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days/ He told him: "If you breach that order by not attending those days that is a separate offence and you can be brought back before the court and resentenced and can be sent to prison."
Read next:
