BREAKING: Louth man (58) admits child porn offences

James Haggan, 58, of St James View, was arrested after police raided his home acting on a tip-off.

Computer equipment was seized and over 2,700 indecent images of children were found including 81 videos.

Edna Leonard, prosecuting, said the images featured children as young as six years old.

Police also found 1,311 extreme porn videos showing acts of bestiality with a variety of animals including dogs and horses.

Miss Leonard said: “When the defendant was arrested and interviewed about these matters he admitted to the police what he had been doing saying he had an interest in pornography and it started from there.”

David Eager, in mitigation, said that Haggan had no previous convictions and had served his country.

Mr Eager said: “He is a man of exemplary good character.”

Haggan admitted three charges of making indecent images of children between April 2011 and May 2016. He also admitted a further charge of possession of extreme pornography.

He was given an eight month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete a 15 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

Recorder Paul Mann QC, passing sentence, told Haggan: “For much of your adult life you have lived under pressure. You have spent much time abroad away from your family. You have served your country in the Royal Air Force.

“In more recent years, particularly when you have been abroad and isolated, you have allowed your mind to turn to pornography.

“You became desensitised to that and you started looking at material that was plainly unlawful.”

Recorder Mann said that since his arrest Haggan has undergone a rehabilitation course and is now assessed as being a low risk of re-offending in a similar way.