Husband jailed over child porn offences

Forty-three-year-old Stephen Gandy appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court charged with nine counts of making and possessing pornographic images of children.

His wife Annette Storey, 38, also appeared in court after admitting one count of sexual assault and has been ordered to stay away from anyone under the age of 18.

Mr Nicholas Burn, prosecuting, said police found the images after a search of the couple's home in Elbow Street, Old Hill, and that they had been taken and downloaded between March and May 2011. "There were indecent images found in the home and duplicate pictures of an image of a young girl," he added.

"There was also camcorder and computer equipment and indecent images of children found on the hard-drive of a computer and on memory sticks.

"There were also extreme images found on VHS cassettes."

The court heard that Gandy, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, had been depressed at the time of the offences.

Mr Michael Garrett, defending, told the court: "Mr Gandy can keep out of trouble when things are going well for him but when his fantasies come to the forefront, he is unable to exercise control over it."

Mr Andrew Baker, defending, said Storey was easily led and did not present a risk on her own.

Gandy, who has a previous conviction for making indecent images in 2006, was handed a four-year jail term with a further six years on extended licence. He was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order.

Storey was given a 36-month community supervision order.

She was ordered not to come into contact with children under the age of 18 or associate with other sex offenders with the exception of her husband.

Judge Martin Walsh said Storey's offence was 'deeply troubling', while Gandy posed a 'significant risk to members of the public.

"Mr Gandy downloaded images for sexual gratification, and I am satisfied that he fulfils the criteria for an extended sentence of imprisonment," he added.