A pervert who was a member of a "gruesome" WhatsApp group was caught with horrific child abuse images.
Alan Daglish came to the attention of the National Crime Agency in February this year after uploading an indecent video of a child aged 11 or 12 to the WhatsApp group. A judge at Newcastle Crown Court heard the group had "particularly gruesome" interests although there was no evidence Daglish was viewing or searching for anything other than the images he admitted having.
When his devices were examined, police found ten of the most serious, category A images, including two videos, 23 category B and 16 category C images, along with one prohibited cartoon image of a child. An example of the material included a child aged between one and four being raped by a man.
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Daglish, 37, of Collingwood Street, South Shields, admitted distributing one indecent image, three counts of making indecent images and one of possessing a prohibited image. He was sentenced to two years suspended for two years with 240 hours unpaid work. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders register for ten years.
Judge Julie Clemitson told him: "They did depict children who were very young. It's also clear you were associating with a group of people who shared a common interest. Within that group, certain recommendations were made to you for suggested viewing which depicted the most horrific content of rape, sexual violence, child abuse and bestiality.
"There's no evidence you searched for that sort of material or even that you viewed it. Had there been, the outcome of this hearing might be very different.
"It's very easy to hide behind a computer or phone screen and give no thought to the harm that you are contributing to by committing this sort of offence but it's important anyone who views indecent images of children or shares them, that they understand they are images of real child sexual abuse.
"Just because the audience is hidden does not mean it's not happening and happening to please that audience. You were part of that audience and part of the reason those children were being harmed. They were potentially being caused lifelong psychological harm for the gratification of people like you."
The judge said Daglish blamed his actions on alcohol, that he would be vulnerable in custody and that his family had other problems to contend with and "could do without this". She said she would give him one chance by suspending the sentence to address his issues, which would mean "the world will be a safer place for children".
Gavin Doig, defending, said Daglish was "extremely concerned" about the outcome of his case but said the probation service were prepared to work with him.
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