Description
A MAN who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children from the internet has walked free from court.
Paul Brentnall, from Mossbank, was caught after his estranged wife found the images on his computer after he moved out of their house in Wiltshire.
And when the 46-year-old was arrested at his new home in Shetland officers found he had been at it again.
Lynne Henderson, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court this week that in November or December 2006 the defendant left his wife when they lived in Moormead Road, Wroughton.
She said he left a personal computer and a laptop and his wife asked a family friend to look at them because of what she found.
The family friend stopped quickly after finding indecent pictures on the machines and they were handed over to the police. Officers found 372 of the images on the computers, including 24 in the worst two categories.
Miss Henderson said Wiltshire officers flew to Shetland in November last year and with the permission of the islands sheriff arrested Brentnall.
When they questioned him he assured them there would be no more similar pictures on his new computer.
But when it was searched it was found to contain 32 more indecent images of children including two in the worst two categories. He told police he could not fathom how they got there and said he had erasing software on the new computer.
Brentnall pleaded guilty to one count of possessing and three of making indecent images of children. The court heard that though he admitted a further count of possession and making of similar images they took place in Scotland, and could only be prosecuted there.
Michael Cullum, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Much of the material had been sent to him by people he was communicating with over the internet, the court was told.
Mr Cullum said his client suffered from sleep apnoea and had to sleep with a mask because of the condition. He said his client was keen to accept help for what he had done and was being supported by his new partner.
Judge William Hart imposed a community order and told him to be under supervision for 18 months, do 120 hours of unpaid work and pay 250 costs. He will have to register as a sex offender for five years.