DISGUSTING child porn images were found on a second-hand iPhone by a horrified pawnbroker.
The police were contacted, and it was found that phone owner Ricky Mullin had also disturbingly been posing as a female agent to get teenage models to send him images of themselves.
Mullin, 41, of Murray Road, Rugby, was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty at Warwick Crown Court to three charges of making indecent images of children.
Prosecutor Blondel Thompson said that towards the end of 2014 Mullin deposited his iPhone at the Cash Generators shop in Rugby, and later redeemed it.
He deposited it again in January last year, and after failing to redeem it by April, a staff member began to prepare the phone to be sold – and came across indecent images of children.
When he was arrested, Mullin denied any knowledge of the images.
On the phone, the police found 15 indecent images of children, of which two were classed as being in the most serious category A.
But Miss Thompson pointed out there were also more than 100 ‘indicative images’ of females involved in sexual activity, but whose ages could not be determined.
There were also messages, and when Mullin was interviewed again he admitted he had posed as a female agent for teenage models and had been sent pictures by would-be models.
Miss Thompson pointed out it was not known whether any of those were among the indecent images to which the charges related.
Although he admitted downloading the images, Mullin denied his motive was sexual, claiming he was ‘a lonely 40-year-old’ who found it easier to talk to teenage girls online.
Daniel Oscroft, defending, said: “At the time of these offences the defendant was a heavy user of crack cocaine. He had been introduced to it by his former partner.”
Referring to a pre-sentence report, he said there were ‘some disturbing aspects’ to that relationship, and Judge Andrew Lockhart QC observed: “This was a highly sexualised house that he remained in.”
Mr Oscroft said Mullin, who has now stopped using crack, accepts there was a sexual motivation for what he did.
And arguing for a suspended sentence or a community order with a sex offenders’ programme, Mr Oscroft added: “He is someone who is capable of redemption and will not pose an ongoing threat to children.”
But jailing Mullin and ordering him to register as a sex offender for ten years, Judge Lockhart told him: “Between November 2014 and March 2015 you were making indecent photographs of children by downloading them.
“One of (Cash Generators’) female employees saw the images I have just seen and was disturbed by them.
“You denied being responsible and made up a story of having it for only a few days and then selling it on.
“In a second interview you admitted downloading indecent images from the internet.
“You deny targeting young girls, but I find that a hard assertion to understand or accept. You had pretended to be a female called Paris or Louise, a model agent, and were getting people to send you images.
“In the light of the proclivity you had, I find that disturbing, but you are not charged with any offence in relation to that.”
Of the indecent images, the judge added: “These are serious offences. Every viewing perpetuates the abuse of those children, who may now be young women. They are abused each time someone like you looks at these images.
“More significantly, you left the images where others could readily view them, and that then happened.”
Following the trial, investigating officer Marcella Forrest said: “There is always a digital footprint left behind when illegal images are viewed, downloaded or accessed.
“The children in these images are real and the impact on the lives of those we bring before the court for these offences has real consequences.
“The actions of Mullin and others who download and exchange illegal images like this, fuel the trade of child sexual abuse. I would like to thank the staff member of the store for notifying police and supporting officers in their work to protect children from harm.
“This result sends a clear message to those who believe that they can obtain these images and get away with it; they will be pursued, tracked down by the police and brought before the courts.”
Something’s Not Right is Warwickshire’s campaign to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE). The campaign has been developed by Warwickshire’s multi-agency sexual exploitation team and encourages the public to recognise the signs of CSE and report concerns.
