A man who viewed and distributed illegal images of children completed a last criminal download just 56 minutes before police arrested him at his Eden Valley home.
Police attended Danny Wood’s Great Salkeld address on August 27 of 2020. On arrest, Wood, now aged 58, tellingly told officers: “Yes, I saw them. I was browsing and they were on the domain.”
An iPad was seized and analysed. This revealed a total of 174 illegal images. Wood had downloaded 28 — including eight moving — indecent photographs of children classed in class A, the most serious. There were 25 more in category B and 110 in category C.
Police learned the last download occurred 56 minutes before Wood was arrested.
In addition, he had 11 prohibited pictures of children and also distributed some in class C. These were swapped as he engaged in online exchanges with others, and Carlisle Crown Court heard today, Wood had stated of one picture showing a six-year-old: “Love that last one. Perfect age.”
Wood, now of Little Baddow Road, Woodham Walter, near Maldon, Essex, admitted three counts of making indecent photographs of children; possession of prohibited images; and one distribution charge.
As Wood was sentenced, defence barrister Judith McCullough spoke of him becoming socially isolated during 2020 with his mental health in decline. “He is deeply ashamed and deeply sorry for what he has done,” she said.
Judge Richard Archer noted Wood had no previous convictions, had since moved away from Cumbria, sought a referral to the “Stop it Now” charity and shown insight into the terrible harm inflicted on youngsters by abuse.
Judge Archer suspended a six-month jail term for two years, emphasising that this was not to assist nor “go easy” on Wood, but to “stamp out reoffending behaviour” by offering help.
Wood must complete 120 hours’ unpaid work and a 60-day rehabilitation requirement. He must also sign the sex offenders’ register, and follow the terms of a strict court prevention order, both for seven years.
