Sunderland dad caught with over 2,000 sick images of children made 'complete outcast'

Police seized a mobile phone and a computer hard drive when they raided James McGuire's family home in Sunderland in September 2019.

The 38-year-old claimed he had "inadvertently" downloaded indecent images of children on one occasion and had quickly deleted them.

But Newcastle Crown Court heard a total of 2,200 pictures and movies were found on the devices, as well as an extreme pornographic image which featured an animal.

The court heard the collection had been downloaded between January 2013 and September 2019.

Prosecutor Gurjot Kaur said: "Some of the children appear as young as five to eight years old.

"There are a high degree of images possessed, across all categories, 2,200 images were found."

The court heard a "large number of victims" were featured in the vile collection, which included 47 category A images, which is the most serious, 31 category B and 2,122 category C.

McGuire, now of Darcy Court, Sunderland, admitted three charges of making indecent images and one of possessing extreme pornography.

Andrew Walker, defending, said McGuire has already paid a "heavy price" for his behaviour.

Mr Walker said: "He has lost his good character but frankly that is the least of it.

"He has been completely deserted by friends and family so he can be regarded, frankly, as a complete outcast.

"His marriage has ended, or will end, he has been dismissed from his employment, his mental health has plummeted."

The court heard McGuire, who has no previous convictions, has been assessed as a "low risk of reconviction".

Mr Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation requirements and a three-month night time curfew.

McGuire must abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

The judge said McGuire has a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation" but told him: "In downloading those images for your own sexual gratification you have abused children.

"Inevitably and correctly you have suffered enormously, something you richly deserve. You have been cut off from family, friends and society."

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