Jeffrey Birkett 49

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A computer support technician was found with sickening images of child abuse and bestiality after a major investigation into "extremely disturbing" online messages.

IT expert Jeffrey Birkett now realised that real children were involved in the abuse and it was "beginning to dawn" on him just how troubling and disturbing it was. He slipped into looking at the images after he became isolated during lockdown but the evidence against him was "robust", Hull Crown Court heard.

Birkett, 47, of The Oval, Pocklington, admitted possessing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography on August 21, 2020. Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that the National Crime Agency intercepted messages that were "extremely disturbing" and contained indecent material.

"An investigation was launched into who had actually been dispatching these messages," said Mr Welch. They were later traced to Birkett's Pocklington home but no charges had been brought in relation to that matter. His computer equipment was, however, seized.

Two Category C indecent images of children were found as well as 10 extreme pornography bestiality images and 40 videos. David Godfrey, mitigating, said that the offences were troubling and disturbing and it was something that Birkett needed help to tackle.

"He readily appreciates that his behaviour has brought considerable shame on him and those around him," said Mr Godfrey. "He recognises that for every child, there is a victim. There is some difficulty of thinking. He is somebody who is finding it very difficult to articulate why he did what he did."

The evidence that the investigators found was "robust" and he had pleaded guilty. Birkett worked in the IT industry and had been married for six-and-a-half years, as well as being previously married.

He became isolated during lockdown and was "really struggling" at the time. He had no previous convictions. Judge Michael Slater told Birkett: "I accept that it's beginning to dawn on you how serious these matters are. It's clear to me that you are both contrite and extremely apprehensive of today's proceedings and so you should be."

Birkett was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours' unpaid work and 30 days' rehabilitation. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for 10 years. His computer equipment will be forfeited.

"Should you breach it in any way, you will be brought before me and you will have a hard job persuading me not to send you immediately to prison," said Judge Slater. "You are treading a tight rope here, should you have any feelings or desires to commit any similar offences in the future, and you have been suitably warned."