Locations
St John's Road, Frome, Somerset, BA11
Description
Grandfather jailed after vile child images and 'depraved' chats found
After separating from his wife, he strayed into the dark side of the internet and obtained and shared 'horrifying' images
A man who was found with "sickening" child abuse images including ones which involved the rape of a baby has been jailed.
Christopher Bate, 67, of St John's Road in Frome, pleaded guilty to distributing A Class images between September 2013 and November 2018.
He also admitted possessing Category A, B and C images as well as an extreme porn image.
In total, he had 2,976 images and 879 movies in the most serious Category A.
He appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday (Febuary 12) to be sentenced.
The court heard how Bate was once married with children and grandchildren, Bristol Live reports.
But the court was told after separating from his wife, he strayed into the dark side of the internet and obtained and shared images which a judge described as "horrifying".
He was brought to book when Avon and Somerset Police called on him due to intelligence they received.
Nicholas Fridd, prosecuting, said Bate accessed child abuse movies and police made an appointment to see him.
Mr Fridd said officers found child abuse images across the category range on his computer tower and a further image on his phone.
When police identified websites Bate visited, they found he had said he liked "fit men and boys" and indicated he would like to sexually abuse a five-year-old boy.
His collection of vile images included babies and young boys being raped, the court was told.
Edward Hetherington, defending, said after separating from his wife Bate turned to the internet for sexual gratification and "short-term relationships"
Mr Hetherington said: "He then developed an interest in the darker, illegal, harmful part of the Internet.
"He still maintains it was a way of attracting attention and it would open up interest of others who would not otherwise engage in sexual conversation with him."
The court heard wheelchair user Bate had a plethora of ailments which included ulcers on his legs and feet, which ran the risk of amputation.
Judge Paul Cook jailed him for 28 months.
He told Bate: "The images were sickening and horrifying and demonstrate a focus on the most extreme abuse of very young children.
"They involved the rape of a baby.
"You have been communicating with other paedophiles and sharing movies and images.
"The conversations you had can only be described as depraved."
Bate was told to register as a sex offender and was handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, both for ten years. His computer devices were forfeited.