A PAEDOPHILE who engaged in “the fantasy swapping” of indecent images of children over social media has been spared prison.

Albert Russell, 51, was found with sick images depicting the sexual abuse of young girls.

Ipswich Crown Court heard police visited his home in Colchester in May 2020 and asked him to attend a voluntary interview.

Russell also pointed officers in the direction of various electronic devices, which were seized and forensically examined.

Adam Norris, prosecuting, said in police interview Russell made “incredibly frank and open” admissions, admitting he had used social media to share indecent images of children.

The court heard this behaviour had been going on for “two to three years”, and predominantly involved pictures of girls aged between 11 and 12.

Mr Norris said: “Sometimes he accepted they were very young indeed, going down to between three and four years of age.”

On the devices, 35 images and 159 videos at the most serious Category A were found, alongside 22 pictures and 43 videos at Category B, and 200 images and 56 videos at Category C.

Police found Russell had used various pseudonyms and profile names on social media platform ‘Kick’, where he “engaged in essentially fantasy swapping of photos”.

Mr Norris said: “He conducted a fantasy life online, which involved conversations with others with similar interests.”

The court heard he had, “in some way”, distanced himself from the fact real people were depicted in the images.

Russell, of London Road South, Lowestoft, admitted three counts of possessing indecent images of children, three counts of distributing indecent images of children, one count of possessing a prohibited photograph of a child and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Richard Potts, mitigating, said Russell had voluntarily sought help and counselling since his arrest.

He added: “He’s keen his family doesn’t suffer from his misdeeds, from this rather sordid experience.

“He is fortunate that his family are standing by him and that they maintain a relationship which is entirely cordial, but recognises the deep sadness imposed by what he has done.”

Recorder Jeremy Benson QC said: “You are a man of 51 years of age and until these offences you had led a blameless life.

“But, on May 16 2020, police officers went to your home and on various electronic devices they found a substantial number of indecent moving images of Category A.

“It’s also right to say that although you distributed some images, it was not for financial gain.

“But you must understand that the reason why these offences are taken seriously is because of the harm that is caused to the children and young people who are the subject of the videos and pictures.

“Although you’re not the one causing the harm directly to these children, if there wasn’t a market for such images, there wouldn’t be the harm to these children.

“On the other hand in mitigation, there is the following.

“First of all now 20 months have passed since you were arrested, which is not your fault. Secondly in the intervening time you have taken steps to cure yourself of this addiction.

“Thirdly, when you were arrested, you made more than full admissions.

"As a result of these convictions, you’ve lost your good name, your marriage of some 21 years is in serious difficulty, if not over, and you find yourself in the dock of a crown court.”

Russell was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He must carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement and complete a specialised rehabilitation programme.

He will remain subject to a sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements for ten years.

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