In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that David Cattermole, then 43, of London Road South, Lowestoft, Suffolk, was sentenced to prison for a third time. On Thursday, 2 May 2019, Cattermole appeared at Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of making indecent images of children and the possession of a prohibited weapon.
The investigation established that in February 2017, Suffolk Police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home in Lowestoft, Suffolk, where they seized a large volume of computer devices. Forensic examination revealed nearly 200 indecent images of children, including graphic material involving girls as young as five years old. During the search, officers also discovered a stun gun at the property, leading to the additional firearms charge.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Cattermole was a prolific and repeat offender, with historical convictions in 2001 and 2013 for similar crimes. The judge noted that the majority of the images in all three cases were of the most serious nature, depicting the rape and torture of children. The prosecution stated that the defendant’s history of downloading over 1,000 images in his previous cases demonstrated a failure to reform despite prior custodial and community sentences.
The judge noted that the possession of a stun gun alongside a obsession with child abuse material represented a significant danger to the public. For his actions in Lowestoft, Suffolk, Cattermole was sentenced to 24 months in prison. The prosecution noted that the investigation required meticulous digital forensic work to uncover the extent of the 2017 downloads across multiple devices.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, David Cattermole was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 24 months in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- SHPO: An indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted at Ipswich Crown Court after previous jail time in 2013 and a community order in 2001.
- Convictions: Making indecent images of children and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Cattermole is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Suffolk Police and the prison estate. Due to the nature of the repeat offending and the weapons conviction in Lowestoft, Suffolk, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Cattermole must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in London Road South, Lowestoft, Suffolk, for the rest of his life. Authorities state that the indefinite SHPO is crucial given his 18-year history of targeted child abuse material consumption. Any breach of his registration conditions, the SHPO, or his licence terms upon release will result in immediate arrest and a return to Ipswich Crown Court.
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