Man caught with child abuse images involving children as young as five after raid on Sunderland home

A man caught with child abuse images on his mobile phone has kept his freedom.
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Police seized David Lonsdale's handset when they raided his home in Sunderland in 2019. A total of 23 illegal pictures were found.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the children featured in the photographs were as young as five.

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The 52-year-old, now of Reading Street, West Cornforth, admitted three charges of having indecent images of children.

The case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court.The case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court.
The case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court heard he had 10 pictures of category A, which is the most serious, 5 of category B and 8 of category C.

He told police he had been "drinking and taking drugs" at the time and when asked about the images that were found he said he "simply couldn't remember".

Tony Cornberg, defending, said Lonsdale has sought professional intervention and has been in no trouble before or since.

Mr Cornberg said Lonsdale has a job and character references.

Judge Robert Spragg sentenced Lonsdale, assessed as a "low risk" of re-offending, to a community order for two years with rehabilitation and programme requirements and 80 hours unpaid work.Lonsdale must sign the sex offenders register and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order for five years.