A BUSINESSMAN “didn’t realise” downloading abusive images which involved children in “pain and distress” was illegal, a court has been told.

Sascha Hunsinger amassed a vast cache of over 13,000 pictures and movies over six years – including almost 400 in Category A, the most serious.

He was appearing at Swindon Crown Court on Wednesday (May 25) where he avoided an immediate prison sentence after the judge remarked he had done “everything right on your part at this stage”.

The German national, who works in Berlin, flew to the UK, especially for his hearing and intends to return to the UK to complete the requirements of his suspended sentence.

Prosecutor Oliver Wellings told the court that Wiltshire Police raided Hunsinger’s then-Swindon home in Mistletoe Court, South Leaze in October 2020, having received intelligence of “peer-to-peer file-sharing of indecent images of children”.

Three devices were seized – with 13,731 child abuse images discovered.

They ranged from 289 still and 106 moving in Category A, which are the most serious, through all the categories and children aged between 5 and 15.

Search terms used also included “highly suggestive terms such as ‘jail bait’,” Mr Wellings said.

Mitigating, Emma Handslip said that her client, a former manager of a Swindon branch of the Drain Doctor plumbing franchise, was remorseful.

“When talking of these offences, there was the realisation of the impact it has,” she said.

Ms Handslip said that the 51-year-old understood that making the images was wrong, but did not at first believe there was anything wrong with downloading or possessing the child abuse images.

“Because he downloaded something readily available, he hasn’t put two and two together.

“He now has a stable job with an employer fully aware.”

There had been lengthy discussions before the hearing over what sentence Judge Jason Taylor QC would be able to impose, with the probation service saying there was limited options with him living abroad.

Miss Handslip told the court she told the probation officer before the hearing: “You’re essentially saying because somebody lives in Germany they’ve got to go to prison. That’s the conclusion you’re reaching. That’s the net effect.”

Judge Taylor was not impressed, and decided he was “going to give them a target to aim for”.

He said his accessing child abuse images showed “a sustained and deliberate pattern of behaviour” and he had been “desensitised” to the process and had a “morbid curiosity”.

“If there was not a market, then of course people wouldn’t produce them.”

But, he said that he was impressed by his actions since then. “Rather than seek to flee justice, you have returned to this country.

“You have returned knowing that I might have been forced to impose imprisonment. That takes courage on your part.”

Judge Taylor imposed a 12 month jail term, suspended for 18 months.

During that time, Hunsinger must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, plus 40 days of rehabilitation activity days.