Suspended sentence for Ipswich computer repairer who downloaded child porn

Police attended Merlin Reeves’ business premises in January and seized computer equipment which was taken away and examined by experts, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting said eight moving images in the most serious A category were found on the devices as well as one level B moving image, one level B still image and eight images in the lowest level C category.

He said one of the moving images involved girls aged two and upwards.

Mr Crimp said that when Reeves was interviewed by police officers he made full admissions to the offences.

Reeves, 41, of Bramford Road, Ipswich admitted three offences of making indecent images of children and was given a six month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, a 40 day rehabilitation requirement and ordered to pay £250 costs.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

A hearing to discuss the terms of a sexual harm prevention order will be held at a later date.

Sentencing Reeves, Judge John Devaux said the offences involved a small number of images but as Reeves had admitted offending over eight years it was unlikely these were the total number of images accessed by him.

Roger Thomson for Reeves said his client, who has no previous convictions, had been co-operative with the police and had given them passwords to enable them to access his computers.

He said Reeves had admitted looking at mainly adult pornography and some child pornography for eight years.

“He knows it is wrong and has got himself off it but then lapses back into it,” said Mr Thompson.

He said Reeves had been reading books on the subject in a bid to understand what he had been doing and how to stop it.

He said Reeves’ arrest had a considerable effect on him and relationships with his family who were shocked by what he had done.

Mr Thomson said Reeves was remorseful and recognised that he needed help and support to stop him reoffending in the future.