Paedophile's 'high sex drive' leaves him sobbing in dock of crown court

A paedophile's "high sex drive" left him sobbing in the dock of court.

Jordan Clarkson amassed a sickening collection of hundreds of indecent images of children, some of which showed babies being raped. The "isolated" pervert was spared an immediate custodial sentence, but was warned by a judge that he would not "get this chance again".

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Friday, that police executed a search warrant at the 25-year-old's home on April 4 last year. Illicit materials were then discovered on three iPhones which were seized from him.

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Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, described how this vile stash included 266 pictures and 33 videos in category A - those showing the most serious forms of abuse. The devices also contained 234 images and nine films in category B, as well as 402 photographs and five movies in category C.

Clarkson - of Almond Drive in Burtonwood, Warrington - had meanwhile downloaded one computer generated image depicting abuse as well as two extreme photographic images which, according to charge sheets, involved dogs. The phones showed "various search terms" including "young", "incest" and "paedo" and "search terms relating to bestiality type images".

Mr Hopkins outlined how some of the images recovered even showed babies being raped. Under interview, Clarkson "accepted responsibility for the images".

Carmel Wilde, defending, told the court: "The defendant does now accept that anybody viewing these images is doing it for sexual gratification. He indicates that he has had a high sex drive.

"Obviously there is a lack of sexual intimacy. He has come to terms with the fact that his offending is something extremely concerning and needs addressing, and of his own accord he has done that.

"He is a young man with no previous convictions. He is engaging with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and educating himself that his desire to view such shocking images causes children to be the victims of sexual abuse.

"Matters spiralled out of control really. He is a very isolated man, he is a carer for his mother.

"He found himself not in a good place at the time of these offences and was struggling to deal with his own depression and anxiety and resorted to the internet, and it spirals from there initially. There are issues that need to be addressed."

Clarkson admitted possession of indecent images, three counts of making indecent images, possession of extreme pornographic images and possession of a prohibited image. Appearing in the dock wearing a black suit over a white shirt, he was seen dabbing his eyes with a tissue during the hearing before he was handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for two years.

Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: "You have never been in trouble before, and that is probably what has saved you from going immediately to prison today. You are not going to get that chance twice.

"These images are particularly grave. Your search history shows you were looking for material like this and going onto websites about child abuse, which is all very disturbing.

"I make it clear. You are not going to get this chance again."

Clarkson replied: "Very clear, sir."

The defendant was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period. He will be required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days, a six-month mental health treatment requirement and a programme requirement.

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