'Sorry' paedophile spared jail over huge haul of child abuse images

Michael Mount-Stevens hid the laptop from his partner in his loft at his home in Bushbury but used it to view the images and chat with like-minded people online when she went out, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday. (Tue),

Police received information that led them to raid his home in Elston Hall Lane on June 20, 2013, and seize the computer.

Mr Nicholas Burn, prosecuting, said there had also been evidence that the 49-year-old had distributed three images to people he chatted to on a website.

Of the thousands of images were recovered - including 1,568 in the most serious category.

Mr Burn said: "The defendant's laptop was recovered from the loft. He says he kept it up in the loft so when his partner leaves the premises he can bring it down and access the sites and engage with like-minded individuals."

A USB stick was also recovered which contained several indecent images.

Mr Burn said: "The overall age range of the children depicted goes from six months up to the age of four or five, boys and girls."

He said that he distributed some images to other people while chatting to them online.

The court was told that Mount-Stevens made full admissions in interview and claimed he did not view the images out of any sexual motivation.

Mr Burn said there were several aggravating features, including the ages and vulnerability of the victims, the distress it caused and there were a 'significant' amount of indecent images which were filed under the most serious category.

He also said there were a considerable number of victims.

Mount-Stevens, who now lives in Moor Lane, Birmingham, admitted eight counts of making indecent images of children, one charge of taking indecent images of children and one of distributing indecent images of children.

Mr Justin Jarmola, mitigating, said he was now separated from his partner.

He told the court that he had also undertaken a course to address his behaviour and was currently unemployed.

He added: "This is a man that chose, at a low point in his life, to indulge in the darker side of his sexual ability."

Judge Michael Dudley said there had been a number of aggravating features but Mount-Stevens had shown remorse and taken a course to address his behaviour.

He handed him a three-year community order, with a supervision requirement and a requirement to attend an internet offenders group programme.

The judge told him: "The reason the courts take such a serious view of these cases is the misery and harm it inflicts on very, very young children.

"It seems to me the good start you've made by attending the course can be continued by a very high level community order."

He also made a Sexual Offences Prevention Order until further notice and Mount-Stevens will be on the Sex Offender Register for five years.

He will also have to pay £540 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge.