Former Labour MP Eric Joyce spared jail for making indecent image of child

Former Labour MP Eric Joyce has been handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence for downloading a video of child sexual abuse.

The 60-year-old, who was MP for Falkirk between 2000 and 2012, admitted having the 51-second clip on his computer, which was said to include the abuse of a 12-month-old child.

Ipswich crown court heard Joyce’s life spiralled downwards towards the end of his political career, as he was convicted of drink driving, investigated over an alleged assault in the House of Commons, and prosecuted for a brawl in a Camden shop.

Joyce was arrested in November 2018 over the child abuse video, and police then discovered evidence to suggest he had made other searches for indecent images of children online.

This morning, Mr Justice Edis handed Joyce an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years, with orders to complete community service and go into rehab.

He told Joyce child abuse videos are made “because there are people like you who want to watch these films.

“If there was not the market, those children would not be subjected to these very serous offences. You are part of the reason why it happens.”

The judge said the background material found by police showed downloading the clip was not an “isolated incident” but “part of a pattern”.

However he ruled Joyce should not go straight to prison as there is a chance of rehabilitation, he has given up drinking since his arrest, and has sought medical help.

Joyce was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service as part of the sentence, as well as attend rehab sessions.

Prosecutor Michael Proctor said Joyce told police he had browsed online for adult heterosexual pornography, but insisted he had not seen child abuse material he is suspected of looking at.

Prosecutor Michael Proctor

However he did accept that the video – in the highest category of seriousness – had been on his computer.

“He told police he was intoxicated when involved in that activity”, said Mr Proctor. “He couldn’t remember looking at that kind of material.”

The court heard Joyce had sent himself a link to the abuse clip via email but could not explain to officers why he did it.

“He told police he was not sexually attracted to children, and since his arrest he has sought help”, added the prosecutor.

He said police found around 2000 "peer to peer files indicative of downloading or looking at images of child abuse”, dating back to June 2014.

Joyce, a former Labour politician, gave up his seat in Parliament after a highly publicised incident in a Westminster bar when he was arrested on suspicion of assault but did not face charges.

He was convicted of breaching the peace following a May 2013 fracas at Edinburgh airport, and he was handed a ten-week suspended prison sentence for an October 2014 assault on a teenager in a Camden shop.

Mark Shelley, representing Joyce today, told the court: “The pre-sentence report gives his background, his time in the army, time as an MP, then something happened and it all imploded.

“A clever, hard-working man, taken to drink, and his life is destroyed by behaviour you have seen in his previous convictions.

“Since that time, he has given up drinking, found a partner that he loves, she loves him and they have made a life together.”

Joyce, a former Army major from Worlingworth, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child.

He stood with his hands clasped in front of him as sentence was passed, nodding and thanking the judge as he was released from the dock.

Joyce did not oppose the making of an indefinitely sexual harm prevention order, and was ordered to pay the prosecution costs of the case.