Cambridge University poetry professor who had more than 2,000 child abuse images.

Cambridge University Poetry Professor Walks Free After Pleading Guilty to Child Abuse Image Charges

Simon Jarvis, 53, a renowned poetry professor at Cambridge University, has been sentenced to a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of possessing and distributing child abuse images. The National Crime Agency raided his home and college room in September, uncovering over 2,000 indecent images, including one depicting a baby.

Of the images found, 45 were categorized as Category A, the most serious level. The investigation also unearthed Yahoo chat logs containing graphic child abuse fantasies, software used to access the Dark Web, and images of pre-pubescent girls as young as 10 being sexually abused.

Jarvis admitted to four counts of making and two counts of distributing indecent images of children, five counts of possessing prohibited images, and one count of possessing extreme pornography. He broke down in tears during the sentencing hearing at Cambridge Crown Court.

Judge David Farrell QC addressed Jarvis, stating, "You are an intelligent man, a professor of English literature at the University of Cambridge. As such, in my judgment, you must have known that by accessing and viewing indecent images of children, you were indirectly encouraging the abuse of children. You were looking at these images for your own perverted sexual gratification."

Despite the severity of the offenses, Jarvis was given a suspended prison sentence, meaning he will not serve time in jail unless he commits further offenses. The judge cited Jarvis's "low risk" to children as a factor in his decision. The sentence has sparked controversy, with many criticizing the leniency shown to Jarvis given the nature of his crimes.