In 2022, Thomas Wright, a Hartlepool Paedophile, found with indecent images of children as young as 18 months old on his mobile phone, was arrested by police after he shared a picture on YouTube.
Thomas Wright, who was part of an ‘adult baby’ community, admitted having 65 images of youngsters. These included 11 category A images – the most serious category – eight category B images, and 14 category C images.
Thomas Wright also admitted possession of 33 prohibited images of children and was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday, Teesside Live reports.
Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said the 33-year-old had his laptop and mobile phone seized by police at his home in Hartlepool during a search in March last year. She said: “Police were alerted because they received information that the defendant had uploaded an indecent image to YouTube.”
All of the indecent images were found on Thomas Wright’s mobile phone. Ms Haigh said that Wright, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, accepted that he was responsible for the images found on his phone as he was the only person who had access to it.
Thomas Wright, who was of previous good character, had been participating in an online chat group and had developed a friendship with another man. They were both part of the adult baby community, Ms Haigh said. She added that the images, taken over two months, had stemmed from that.
She said one of the aggravating factors in the case was the age and vulnerability of the victims. The youngest child was 18 months old.
Martin Scarborough, defending, said his client has both physical and mental health difficulties. He said he has no previous convictions and “appears to have shown remorse”.
Thomas Wright pleaded guilty at Teesside Magistrates’ Court last month, and Mr Scarborough said his client had complied well with probation services. Judge Jonathan Carroll said, “I accept that you are a young man with a profound disability not of your making.”
He said cerebral palsy had had a profound impact on Thomas Wright’s life and that he felt socially isolated. Judge Carroll said, “I am not here to judge you for the aspects of who you are.
“There is much more understanding and tolerance of differences, and I make it clear I don’t judge you on that.” However, he added that Thomas Wright could not stray into anything that potentially hurt children, whatever his needs were.
He urged Thomas Wright to return to society and lead the “positive and constructive life you are perfectly capable of”. Thomas Wright was handed an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.
He will also have to take part in 50 rehabilitation days. Thomas Wright was placed on a sexual harm prevention order for three years.
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