Warwick man who had thousands of indecent images of children as young as six narrowly escaped being jailed

Robert Worthington also had folders of printed-out sexual material of children
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A Warwick man who had thousands of indecent images of children as young as six on his computers and had even printed some of them has narrowly escaped being jailed.

Robert Worthington was sentenced to ten months suspended for two years by a judge at Warwick Crown Court after pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children.

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Worthington (aged 47) of Wedgnock Green, Warwick, who had also admitted possessing prohibited images of children, was ordered to take part in a rehabilitation activity.

Robert Worthington.Robert Worthington.
Robert Worthington.

Judge Barry Berlin also made him subject to a curfew from 7pm to 7am for six months and ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years.

Prosecutor Alexandra Bull said that in January last year the police executed a warrant at Worthington’s home and seized his computer tower, a laptop and a separate hard drive.

On the devices they found 252 images in the most serious category, a further 310 category B images and a total of 2,309 images of children in naked or indecent poses.

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In addition the police found 394 prohibited images indecently depicting children, as well as literature containing stories about incest.

Worthington also had folders of printed-out sexual material of children.

Yet when he was questioned, he said he had not sought out the images, but had come across them, claiming he enjoyed looking at the female form but had no sexual interest in them.

When he was interviewed again after the police had uncovered the extent of the material on his computers, he answered ‘no comment,’ added Miss Bull.

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John O’Higgins, defending, said: “He has now had almost two years since this happened to reflect on it and on the fact that real victims are involved.

“He struggles to understand how he got involved in this. He has faced up to this not just by his pleas, but has contacted the Lucy Faithful Foundation. He acknowledges a problem and has a willingness to address it.”

Mr O’Higgins said Worthington’s wife has serious health problems, and he has not worked since 2014 as he has effective acted as her full-time carer.

It was because of being at home for so long that he began using the internet, ‘and it turned into something more sinister.’

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But Judge Berlin responded: “I am not impressed by that argument. He has pursued this filth with some vigour over a lengthy period.”

Sentencing Worthington, the judge told him: “Children as young as six were being vilely abused by adults, and bestiality was also found. It was kept for your own gratification.

“Such offending perpetuates the abuse of children to satisfy the desires of people like you and to line the pockets of others. It damages the children, and there was discernible pain in a lot of cases.

“People like you who look at these images degrade yourselves by such sexual stimulation, and the children themselves are exploited as a result of it.

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“You sought out this material. I do not accept the submission this was a result of you being locked away for having to look after your wife.

“But you are a full-time carer for your wife, who has a bone disorder. Your wife would be in a very difficult position if I sent you to custody.”