Dublin man downloaded indecent images of children within 24 hours in County Durham

Mark Walsh, 28, was given a suspended sentence at Durham Crown Court

A man has avoided being sent to jail after he was found to have downloaded indecent images of children within a period of 24 hours.

Mark Walsh was found in possession of the indecent images, which also included a “pseudo-image”, when police conducted a search in County Durham on May 12, last year.

The 28-year-old’s computer was seized and the images, which included some in the most serious category, were discovered.

Walsh appeared at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for making indecent images.

The court heard that still and moving images in categories A, B and C, were found in his possession, and that all of them were “accessible”.

Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting, said the still images that were found were “thumbnails” of videos and that one image depicted a “real child”, whereas others were “pseudo-images”.

Walsh, who had no previous convictions, admitted to police that the computer was his, but “would not admit” to the offence of making indecent images.

He also claimed not to have a sexual interest in children, the court heard.

Lewis Kerr, defending, said Walsh now lives in the Republic of Ireland full time, and that the Irish authorities are aware.

He said Walsh, of Collinswood, Dublin, was a “moderately low risk” and had downloaded the images “at a difficult time of his life” and was “not coping well”.

Mr Kerr added that Walsh’s “work prospects” would be “eliminated” if he was sent to prison.

Sentencing him, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said that it was with a “measure of reluctance” that he would give him a suspended sentence.

Walsh was given an eight month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

The judge warned him: “If you offend again it’s inevitable that you will be sent to prison.”