James Barber, 52, was caught with indecent images of children as young as six and had discussed rape fantasy and paedophilia in messages recovered from his phone
A grandfather has avoided jail despite police finding dozens of sickening images of children on his phone.
James Barber, 52, was also caught discussing rape fantasy and paedophilia in messages recovered from the device.
He appeared in court today and pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and possession of extreme pornographic images.
Barber, of Kitchener Street in St Helens, was arrested in June last year after a search warrant was issued at his home.
There, police recovered several Category A images – the most severe form of indecent images of children – with some involving children as young as six.
The court heard the defendant possessed 16 category A images, 18 category B images, 11 category C images and three extreme pornographic images, reports the Liverpool Echo.
When he was interviewed by police, Barber denied he was sexually attracted to children and said he had seen indecent images on messaging platform Kik.
But officers also recovered message chats from the defendant’s phone in which he spoke of rape fantasy and paedophilia.
Prosecutor Iain Criddle argued Barber had the images on his phone because of a sexual attraction to children.
Andrew McInnes, defending, said Barber accepted the seriousness of the offences and displayed “evidence of guilt and shame”
The defence also noted Barber’s “long term” use of cocaine, and alcohol as a contributing factor in his “risk taking behaviour online”, adding that he had “disappeared down a very dark hole”.
The defence said Barber had since stopped using cocaine, reduced his alcohol consumption “considerably” and would “welcome any assistance to remain drug free”.
Mr McInnes added: “The defendant is now a grandad. While he now has the support of his family, there is no doubt, going forward, that there will be strains upon family relationships because of these offences.
“While they support him, they do not condone this behaviour in any way,” he added.
Judge Ian Harris said that while he recognised Barber had “addressed” his cocaine habit, there were concerns about his potential to reoffend.
“This type of offending is vile,” Judge Harris said. “There is no other word for it. It is repellent to right thinking members of our community and society generally.
“The author of the pre-sentence report sets out that you demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the harms that your behaviour can cause, although it seems that did not occupy your mind at the time you were using that type of paedophile material.
“If it was not for people like you, there would not be a market for this type of material and the consequent abuse to children that is caused by people who create the images of child abuse in order for it to be distributed. You, bluntly, perpetuate that market.”
Barber was sentenced to a three-year community order with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 25 days, as well as 120 hours of unpaid work.
He was also made subject to a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a five year notification requirement, requiring him to notify police of specified personal details under the Sex Offenders Register.
Barber has one previous conviction from 2021 for drink driving and a caution for assault in 2006. Neither were deemed as aggravating factors in the sentencing.
The defendant was also ordered to pay £250 in court costs.
Judge Harris told the court that Barber would not be given a prison sentence in order to allow him to “engage in appropriate and necessary opportunities” to address his behaviour.
But the judge said a breach of orders could result in immediate imprisonment.
“In plain English the interests of the community at large, in my judgement, are better served by you receiving a rehabilitative order to avoid this type of offending in the future,” Judge Harris said.
“If you fail to cooperate with the authorities that will assist you then you will be breached, a summons will be issued. I reserve all breaches to the crown court in the hope that there will not be any.
“You must know that there are real teeth to these orders and they can bite very hard.”