Pervert pathologist jailed over porn

Consultant histopathologist Terry Marshall was a respected figure in South Yorkshire and was regularly called upon to give evidence at inquests.

But his reputation and his career now lie in tatters after he pleaded guilty yesterday to saving thousands of sexually graphic images of girls as young as five on his computers.

Jailing him for six months, Judge Roger Keen said: "The public are entitled to know people who look at and keep these sort of images are appropriately punished."

Sheffield Crown Court heard 11 images found on a CD were next to the most serious level and showed girls between five and 11. Marshall had labelled it "Age of Innocence."

The 66-year-old was only caught after a virus attacked the computer systems at Rotherham Hospital in 2008 and some of the images were found on his NHS computer.

James Baird, prosecuting, said the computer hard drive revealed a "large quantity" of pornographic images, many of them involving children.

Marshall was arrested at work on November 10, 2008 and two computers and CDs were seized following a search of his home in Quarry Lane, North Anston, Rotherham.

Mr Baird said a "large number" of indecent images of children were found. Marshall admitted one offence of making indecent images of a child and three of making indecent photos of a child.

The first offence involved 11,177 indecent images, showing porn involving children as young as five. The second related to a CD made by Marshall which contained five indecent images of girls.

The third offence dated back to 1998 and involved 90 images of children and the final charge was linked to a CD showing images of girls at Level 4 – the next to worst grade.

When interviewed by police, Marshall made little comment although he admitted being a subscriber to the website where some of the images originated.

Tahir Khan, defending, said the most serious images formed only a small number of the total seized and added Marshall had been a hard-working member of the community.

Mr Khan added: "He has lost his effective good character now. He has lost his career and his reputation."

The court heard Marshall's wife Margaret had been a magistrate but had to stand down from the bench when the offences came to light and she was now dependent upon him.

Mr Khan urged the judge not to jail Marshall saying he would be unable to cope with custody and could be a suicide risk.

But Judge Keen said he could only be given limited credit for his guilty plea as he initially denied the offences and wanted to go to trial causing inquiries to be made about his mental health.

The trial was only halted last month when Marshall pleaded guilty to the four offences. He was originally charged with 16 offences of making indecent images of children and one of possessing indecent images.

Judge Keen said he had read several letters from supporters speaking of his positive good character and contribution to the community but he added "reading some of these letters I find it hard to believe the writer actually knows what you have done."

While appreciating the stress he and his wife had been under, the judge said had contributed to it by his "lack of frankness".

Judge Keen said: "In my judgment this is too serious for anything other than a custodial sentence. The Level 4 images are the ones which put you in the position in which you are. It is aggravated because the children involved are under 13."

Marshall was given a Sex Offenders Prevention Order and his computer equipment and software was forfeited. He must pay 3,500 in costs.