Disabled Hartlepool man spared jail at Teesside Crown Court for possessing indecent images of children

Thomas Wright, 33, was sent 65 illegal images after striking up online chats with a member of an adult baby community, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Police turned up at his home in March last year after receiving information that Wright had uploaded an indecent image of a child to YouTube.

They found the indecent images on his mobile phone, said prosecutor Jenny Haigh.

There were 11 in the most serious category A, eight category B images and 13 category C.

Wright also had 33 prohibited images of children.

Ms Haigh said: “He said he had become involved in an online chat and friendship with another male.

"This man had what became increasingly sexualised discussions and online chat. This seems to have developed into the receiving of the indecent images of children.”

They included moving and still images and featured children as young as 18 months old.

The court heard Wright’s physical and mental health difficulties due to his disability and being in a wheelchair have had a major impact on his life and led to becoming socially isolated.

It also heard he had shown genuine remorse and had no previous convictions or cautions.

Wright, of Eskdale Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

He was given eight months prison suspended for 18 months and 50 probation activity days. He was also made the subject of a three-year sexual harm prevention order.