Man jailed for 12 months for downloading child porn images

Alan McConville was already under the threat of a suspended jail sentence for a previous offences when police raided his then home in the village of Algarkirk.

McConville, 41, now living at Hinton Court, Fenside Road, Boston, admitted three charges of making an indecent photograph of a child. He also admitted breach of a suspended jail sentence imposed for assault.

He was jailed for a total of 12 months, placed on the sex offenders’ register and given a five year sexual harm prevention order.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said that when officers arrived at the property McConville put his head in his hands and said, “That’s it. My life’s over now”.

Mr Howes added: “He made full and frank admissions and said he needed help.

“When he was interviewed he said he was a self-destructive person. He said his relationship had been falling apart and he resorted to looking at adult pornography and then went on to child pornography. He said he felt sick, worried and guilty as hell.”

Mr Howes said that 874 indecent images of children were found on computer equipment seized from the home of McConville. The images included eight videos which had a total footage of over two hours.

Michael Cranmer-Brown, in mitigation, said that since his arrest McConville had been thrown out by his wife and after a period of time spent living in his car he is now in a bedsit.

“He had been in a relationship with his wife for 20 years but their relationship had gone slowly downhill. For ten years or so it had not been worthy of the name.

“In those circumstances he sought some sexual gratification in the internet and strayed into this child pornography. He doesn’t have a sexual interest in children. He says the whole thing has been a nightmare. It was a terrible mistake. He is extremely remorseful.”

“He would say that at the time he was under a great deal of stress and was profoundly depressed.”

Judge Michael Heath, passing sentence, told McConville: “The only sentences that I can pass for these offences are custodial sentences. I have considered carefully whether I can properly suspend the sentences but I cannot.”