Locations
Marram Close, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41
Description
A PEADOPHILE was caught with images of young children as young as two being tied up and abused.
Andrew Burtt claimed he was not sexually aroused by children, a court heard.
The 51-year-old had a stash of 4,778 images involving children between the two and seven-years-old being abused.
Prosecution barrister, Lucie Taylor, said how Burtt sent images and forwarded them on to other users via a social media app called Kik.
However, police eventually arrested the master mariner at a property in Fern Road, Hythe on September 10, 2018.
They searched the address and seized his electronic devices including a Samsung phone and memory card he had been using to store the photos and films.
Miss Taylor told how in a police interview on January 24 this year Burtt accepted responsibility for downloading the images.
However, he said he was not sexually aroused by children.
Furthermore, he could not offer any excuses for his behaviour.
With no criminal record, Burtt of Marram Close, Lymington appeared before Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.
He had previously pleaded guilty to the offences which took place between January 2011and September 2018.
Defending, Chris Gaiger argued his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had made admissions in a police interview.
Mr Gaiger said, Burtt will be dismissed from his position as master mariner operating ferries between Lymington and Yarmouth.
Despite his “addiction”, he has a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, Mr Gaiger added.
Judge Gary Burrell QC said: “How on earth you ended up in this situation I do not understand and I think a lot of people have failed to understand it as well.
He slammed his offences as abhorrent and perverted.
"It looks like your life is ruined all because you wanted gratification", Judge Burrell added.
During sentencing he said how Burtt had taken steps to address his problem and that there was a prospect of rehabilitation.
He have him a 30 month community order.
Burtt must register as a sex offender and complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
He must also pay £450 in costs.