September 2013
CUMBRIA CHILD ABUSE IMAGES MAN BRANDED ‘PSYCHOTIC’ BY WIFE
A man from Cumbria who downloaded more than 1,000 images of child abuse images was branded “psychotic” by his wife as he was jailed.
John Lambert was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Carlisle Crown Court after admitting a number of offences.
He pleaded guilty to 18 charges of making indecent photographs of a child between 2005 and 2011.
In total, he had downloaded 1,080 images.
Five of these were categorised as level five photographs, the most serious class of child pornography.
Tim Evans, prosecuting, told the court the photographs were discovered on the hard drive of a computer Lambert – a 50-year-old telecoms engineer who lived in Alston when he carried out his crimes – had handed in to technicians to service.
They had noticed a folder named after a file sharing website.
Many of the file names in this folder suggested they contained child pornography and the police were called in.
Mark Shepherd, defending, said Lambert had started viewing child pornography while spending time away from his wife.
Mr Shepherd said she was supporting him but that his 25-year marriage was “hanging by a thread”.
He added: “This has been a salutary experience for him, one that he would never choose to repeat.”
Mr Shepherd added that the couple were now living in Worcester.
The judge, Recorder Mark Ainsworth, said: “They (the images) show children, in some cases very young children, being subjected to sexual abuse.
“It is through people using this material, like yourself, that a market has been found for this material and so it supports the abuse of children by others.”
He sentenced Lambert to 10 months imprisonment. Lambert will also be subject to a notification order for 10 years and a sexual offences prevention order for five.
After Lambert had been taken away, his wife was allowed to speak in open court.
She said she did not support her husband, adding: “He is psychotic and has no thought for anyone.”
