Locations
New Road, Barripper, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14
Description
Nigel Dickens, 69, had images of children as young as four being raped and abused.
Dickens, of New Road in Camborne, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography. Prosecuting barrister Ramsay Quaife told the court how in August 2021, acting on information, police executed a search warrant at Dickens' home. They took away with them a laptop and memory stick which were both examined and indecent images found.
The collection assembled between 2017 and 2021 included, on the laptop, 20 Category A images - the most serious kind -, 12 Category B images and nearly 1,400 Category C. Also found were 52 extreme pornography images and on the memory stick a further 175 Category C images. There was also evidence of searches indicative of those seeking child abuse images.
Mr Quaife told the court the images including some featuring "very young children being raped". The youngest victim in the images was four years old. Dickens answered no comment in interview.
Representing Dickens, Robin Smith said that his client pleaded guilty from the beginning and that his arrest was more than two years ago and there was no suggestion of any further offending.
Sitting as judge, Recorder Andrew Oldland, KC, ruled that Dickens' perversions would be best treated in the community rather than in prison where he would receive no intervention during a short sentence. He said: "You are very fortunate not to have gone to prison." Dickens was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years. He must also complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and be subject of a 15 year sexual harm prevention order. Dickens must also pay £500 court costs.