James Card of New Milton admits possessing indecent images of children
A NEW Milton man who admitted possessing more than 200 indecent images of children as young as five has avoided being sent to prison.
Southampton Crown Court heard James Card (36), of Station Road, was arrested at his home address by police on 7th April last year.
Prosecutor Lucy Conway explained the officers had been acting on intelligence they had received. Devices found at his home including a mobile phone revealed 68 category A images – the most severe – along with 83 category B and 74 category C.
The youngest child featured in the images was five years old, the court heard.
While he initially co-operated with police and gave his pin code, he later gave a ‘no comment’ interview.
Defending, Chris Gaiger said Card had admitted downloading legal pornographic images but had not intentionally searched for pictures of children.
The court heard he had received unsolicited indecent images of children through the Kick messaging app, but had not deleted them or left the chat group.
He understood the “serious” offences crossed the custody threshold, he added.
Card pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children between February and April 2023 at an earlier hearing.
Handing him a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England said: “Your basis of plea is that you received unsolicited images.
“You remained in the group, knowing users were sending images of children. Any right-thinking person would have have deleted the images and thought about contacting the police – not stayed in the group, where you received more.
“There is no evidence you searched for child material, but as you know, these are not victimless crimes – they show images of children having vile, disgusting things done to them, destroying their innocence and affecting them for the rest of their lives.”
Card must also carry out 140 hours of unpaid work and up to 35 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions, as well as pay £250 in court charges.
He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, designed to prevent re-offending, and must sign the sex offenders register, both for seven years.
