Swindon paedophile caught with images of babies being abused

Laurence Cull, 55, of Cowley Walk, Park North, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, October 15.

Due to the seriousness of the offences, the case was committed to Swindon Crown Court for sentencing.

At the hearing on Friday, November 21, prosecutor Mr Cooper told the court that Cull had made seven Category A images, three Category B images and 40 Category C images between January 1, 2022 and February 23 last year.

The material found in his possession included still and moving images of girls aged around 11 to 12 being sexually abused.

Mr Cooper added that two of the images showed babies "no older than two months old" being abused.

The 55-year-old's internet search history revealed he had looked up terms including 'pre-teen underwear', 'pre-teen topless' and 'young chubby teen gang bang in bowling alley'.

"The internet search history contains terms which do suggest videos and images are deliberately searched for rather than inadvertently received or gathered as a result of other legitimate searches", Mr Cooper said.

In mitigation, Mr Scott, defending, acknowledged that his client had searched for illegal material, but none of these search terms included looking for images or videos of babies being abused.

He said that Cull, who has no previous convictions, had been a "very hard-working man all his life", but he lost his job as a result of his offending and he has since been offered other jobs, but they have been withdrawn once the employer finds out about his conviction.

The court heard that Cull has shown remorse and tried to start counselling, but he was told he would need three sessions per week costing £200 each, which he could not afford, so he was hoping to receive support from the probation service.

Mr Scott said: "He's very much aware he has a real problem."

Acknowledging Cull's previous good character, Judge Taylor said: "It's a very sad day you are now in court."

 He said that the "extremely grave" images of babies meant the case had passed the custody threshold, but he had taken into account the mitigating factors to suspend the prison sentence.

Judge Taylor sentenced Cull to 9 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and he must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity sessions with the probation service.

A 10-year sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.

 "I don't think for a moment you will breach this order, but the presumption is if you do breach it, you will be going to prison", Judge Taylor concluded.