A BARMAN who was caught with more than 900 indecent images of children has been spared jail.
Southwark Crown Court heard because Jonathan Bristow had Asperger's syndrome he could act on impulse and become obsessive about collecting things.
On Wednesday (Feb6), the court heard 21-year-old Bristow had downloaded 922 indecent images, including a 15-second movie showing a teenage girl trussed up.
Bristow, of Church Lane, Bromley Common, pleaded guilty to eight counts of making indecent images of children and three of possessing indecent images of children.
Prosecutor Thomas Halpin said: "This is a case where the defendant was arrested upon the police receiving certain information to the effect he had used his credit card to pay for access to a website which contained indecent images of children.
"It was found individual attempts were made to access and join these sites on January 18, January 20 and January 30 this year."
He added: "Two computers were seized, a computer tower and a laptop, along with other equipment.
"When it was pointed out to him by the police as to why they were there, he said to them he had done in the past but was trying to stop it."
Judge Deborah Taylor gave Bristow a four-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also put on the Sex Offenders' Register and banned from working with children.
The judge said: "This isn't a victimless crime. These children are often trafficked or forced into the making of these images and have to be protected from sexual exploitation.
"The downloading of this material contributes to that exploitation."
The judge added she had taken Bristow's age and his guilty pleas into account.
She said: "Undoubtedly there is a contribution made by your Asperger's syndrome in the commission of these offences."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article