Middlesbrough Man Sentenced for Child Abuse Images

A Middlesbrough man who downloaded 518 illegal images of children, as well as an extreme pornographic image of a dog, has been sentenced. David Clark, 37, was caught with hundreds of pictures of children as young as three being sexually abused.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Clark possessed 148 class A illegal images of children - the most serious category; 226 category B images and 144 category C images.

Clark, of Midville Walk, Netherfields, admitted five counts of making an indecent photograph, or pseudo-photograph of a child. He also pleaded guilty to possessing an extreme pornographic image of an animal, before his trial was due to start.

When arrested, Clark told police "I'm not a monster - I would never hurt a child."

Paul Cleasby, defending, told the court that his client had been psychologically affected from his work in conflict zones around the world: "He's entirely capable of being rehabilitated. The probation service are willing to work with him. "A short custodial sentence would be counterproductive in this case. He's thoroughly ashamed of himself."

Judge Howard Crowson told Clark: "You deserve to be ashamed. These are vile images, including particularly disturbing ones."

The judge handed Clark a 44-week jail term, suspended for 18-months. He was ordered to attend 25 rehabilitation days and made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, with sexual offender notification requirements for the same amount of time.