A paedophile pet shop worker shared horrific sexual abuse images of a six-month old child on Snapchat.
Anthony Graham uploaded the sickening material on the social media app and was captured after Northumbria Police received a referral from the National Crime Agency. Officers then arrested the 22-year-old at Pets at Home in Kingston Park, Newcastle, where he was employed at the time.
When officers searched his mobile phone, a number of category A, B and C videos and images were discovered. There were a total of 18 category A images and 40 videos, along with 12 category B images and nine videos, and four category C images.
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Graham, of Cowdray Court, Kingston Park, Newcastle, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced for distributing indecent images of children and three counts of making indecent images. He pleaded guilty to the offences, which were committed on dates in 2020.
The court heard that on September 23, 2020, police received a referral from the National Crime Agency relating to the uploading of two category A indecent images of children. The details were linked to a Snapchat account which revealed an IP address and a username connected to Graham.
Rachael Glover, prosecuting, said: "On December 22 the same year, police went to Pets at Home in Kingston Park, Newcastle, as that is where he worked. He provided his mobile phone to police and it was examined and category A, B and C images were found."
Ms Glover added that Graham had uploaded two category A images to Snapchat which depicted the sexual abuse of a six-month-old child. She said he had no previous convictions and gave a no comment police interview.
Ian Hudson, defending, said Graham has borderline personality disorder and has the "motivation to change". He said: "He was bullied constantly at school, I'm not suggesting this is an explanation - his weight also didn't help. He had very little schooling as a result."
Mr Hudson added that Graham was not the "creator or producer" of the images he shared and said that he can be managed in the community.
Recorder Benjamin Nolan KC sentenced Graham to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered him to undertake 30 rehabilitation days and a 27 day Horizon programme. He will be on the sex offender's register for 10 years.
