Record details
A PERVERT who possessed more than 200,000 indecent images of children was relieved to walk free from Worcester Crown Court.
Alan Ford, of Sunnyside Road, Worcester, had arrived at Worcester Crown Court knowing there was a risk he would go to prison.
Ford had previously admitted three counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child; one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child and a further count of possession of an extreme pornographic image which portrayed a person performing a sexual act with a dog.
At his sentencing prosecutor Amrisha Parathalingam reminded the court of the 65-year-old's offending which took place between April 12, 2004, and April 8, 2021.
Police found 792 still and 202 moving category A indecent images of children - the highest level identified within the sentencing guidelines.
Ford also downloaded 1,827 still and 123 moving category B images and 211,748 still and 1,592 moving category C images.
Ford's advocate, at an earlier hearing, had argued some of the images would have been duplicates so the actual number would be fewer, offering that as part of the basis of his guilty plea.
Sentencing him Recorder John Benson KC told Ford he would be jailed for a year but suspended it for two years.
Ford was told he would have to complete 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days, which will be used to address his offending.
Ford was also told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
The judge warned Ford if he committed another crime in the next two years, or breached his suspended sentence conditions, the jail sentence would likely be activated.
The defendant was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order to prevent further offending.
And Ford was also ordered to pay court costs of £455 and victim surcharge.
Mark Thompson defended Ford during the hearing on Friday afternoon, (June 2).
