Child porn pervert spared jail

A FORMER Suffolk College sign language teacher who downloaded indecent images and movies of children today avoided a prison sentence.

Colin Liffen, of Colchester Road, Ipswich, was instead punished with a nine-month custodial term suspended for two years.

The 60-year-old, who is profoundly deaf, had previously pleaded guilty to 13 counts of making indecent images of children.

Ipswich Crown Court heard how Liffen came to the notice of the police after customs intercepted a package addressed to him with images depicting bestiality.

Although the package did not form part of the case, the court heard a search warrant was executed in February which resulted in police seizing Liffen's computer, and several CDs and DVDs.

Forensic analysis found that the defendant had been using file sharing websites to download a total of 65 indecent images and movies of children, ranging between level one and level four. There were 26 images graded at level four, the second most serious category.

Patricia Doggett, prosecuting, said in interview Liffen had said he had not meant to download child pornography and claimed he had burnt a collection to a CD to alert the authorities but had forgotten.

Robert Dalling, mitigating, told the court his client had no previous convictions and said the police investigation had resulted in the loss of Liffen's job and the break-up of his marriage.

Sentencing Liffen, Judge Peter Thompson said: “The probation service say if you were in prison you would suffer more than most because you would not be able to communicate and other prisoners would take a dim view of your offending.”

He was ordered to pay £722 towards prosecution costs and also ordered to pay defence costs. He was made to sign the sex offenders register and handed a two-year supervision order.