Suspended sentence for man who downloaded ‘child porn’ images

David Lightfoot, 58, claimed he was “bored and drunk” when he downloaded the images, York Crown Court heard.

Thousands of images were found on his laptop by his wife after he went to visit his parents and left the computer at home, the court was told.

The court heard how the files were in a folder marked “adult” and that his wife contacted police on realising the disturbing nature of its content.

Lightfoot, of Aberdeen Walk, Scarborough, admitted 17 counts of making indecent images of children and six of distributing indecent images. He was arrested in August 2010 when police discovered 3,000 images, including one at level five, deemed the most serious.

Judge Stephen Ashurst was told that Lightfoot, who served in the Navy and worked for the Prison Service, appeared before the court “thoroughly disgusted with himself”.

But the Recorder of York added: “It is obvious to this court you do have an unhealthy sexual interest in children.”

He said he was able to suspend the six-month jail sentence for two years due to a number of mitigating factors, including his poor health, “public shaming” and his low risk of re-offending.

He said his wife had remained “remarkably loyal and supportive” and she had suggested Lightfoot needed help rather than prison.

The judge also made Lightfoot the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which limits his contact with children and use of computers. He will also have to notify the police of a change of address for the next seven years.