THREE perverts who each had a collections featuring hundreds of indecent images of children have been sentenced following a crackdown by Essex Police.

Dedicated specialist officers from the force have been targeting those known to be involved in downloading the sordid material alongside the Police Online Investigation Team and the Child Abuse Investigation Team.

Stanley Noble, of Hickory Avenue, Colchester, was caught with close to 400 indecent images.

Officers searched the 52-year-old’s home in January last year and seized various computer equipment including hard drives and computer towers.

Analysis showed he had 64 category A pictures and films – the most serious category of abuse imagery, 47 category B and 269 category C.

He admitted three counts of making indecent images of children when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court.

He was jailed for one year, given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of Noble’s computer equipment.

Officers found more than 800 indecent images on computer equipment belonging to Ali Cetinkaya after raiding his home in Grosvenor Place, Colchester, in March.

They were made up of six category A films, 821 category B films and three category C images.

He also admitted three charges of making indecent images of children at Chelmsford Crown Court and was handed a six month jail term suspended for two years.

He must undertake 140 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.

He was also made the subject of a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.

Rocky Watton, 32, of Bramble Road, Witham had more than 300 indecent images including 178 category A, 96 category B and 49 category C and also admitted three counts of making indecent images.

He was given a nine-month jail term suspended for two years, made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10-years.

He was also ordered to carry out 120-hours of unpaid work, 20 days of rehabilitation activity and was ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge.

Det Sgt Ashley Howard, who is leading the specialist team behind the crackdown, said: “We have now searched 65 homes and arrested 58 people as part of this additional crackdown on those downloading, viewing or distributing indecent images of children.

“We will continue to leave no stone unturned in targeting those who commit these types of offences in our county as protecting our children remains a priority for Essex Police.”

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which is the only UK-wide child protection charity focused solely on preventing child sexual abuse, offers support to adults concerned about their sexual thoughts and behaviour towards children.

The charity runs Stop it Now! – a child sexual abuse prevention campaign and helpline. For more information on how Stop it Now! helps people address their online behaviour, please visit the website www.stopitnow.org.uk or call the confidential Stop it Now! Helpline on 0808 1000 900.