Father who downloaded child abuse images avoids prison.

Calne Father Avoids Jail for Child Abuse Images

A 43-year-old Calne father, Martin Tyrrell, has narrowly avoided prison after being caught with child abuse images. Police seized and examined devices from his former Devizes home in late 2022 following a tip-off about his online activity.

The investigation revealed that Tyrrell's email address was being used to access illicit material. Eleven indecent images were found on one of his devices, leading to his arrest and subsequent charges.

Initially, Tyrrell denied being at home when the images were downloaded, but he later admitted the offense at Salisbury Magistrates' Court in March.

Defence solicitor Matthew George stated that Tyrrell had been referred to the mental health team and Stop It Now, an organization that addresses child sexual abuse concerns. He completed a program with the organization, which helped him understand his actions and develop strategies to prevent future offenses.

On June 1st, Tyrrell was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, 40 rehabilitation activity days, and a seven-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

The SHPO imposes strict restrictions on Tyrrell's internet usage. He is banned from using devices without police approval, must delete his web search history, and cannot use social media or chat rooms without prior authorization and password disclosure to the Public Protection Unit.