A Harrogate man has been given a suspended jail sentence after he admitted downloading thousands of indecent images of children.

Robert Neil Johnson, 62, of Nesfield Close, in the Jennyfields area, appeared for sentence at York Crown Court today (15 July) after he admitted three counts of making indecent images.

Prosecutor Nick Peacock said Johnson was arrested at his workplace at a cycling-supplies store in Harrogate in March 2023 after being tracked by North Yorkshire Police’s online child protection team.

Officers seized various internet devices including two laptops and a mobile phone and Johnson was taken in for questioning at Harrogate Police Station. He was released under investigation after refusing to answer police questions.

But Johnson’s online habit was so entrenched that further police investigations revealed he had been uploading indecent images of children even after being released from custody. These were made on April 5 – less than a month after he had been released under investigation.

Police went back to his home in central Harrogate and seized another laptop and a mobile phone. He was arrested, brought back into custody, but made no comment during questioning.

Examination of all the devices seized on both occasions revealed that Johnson had downloaded 245 indecent images of children rated Category A – the worst kind of such material involving the sexual abuse of minors. As well as illicit photos, the stash also included 16 videos.

Police forensic officers also found 1,523 Category B images on the laptops and 302 Category C images.

It’s understood that Johnson, who used to work in the pharmaceutical industry, had been downloading the material as far back as September 2017.

Prosecuting barrister Mr Peacock said that Johnson was previously a “man of good character”.

'Unhealthy interest in children'

Defence barrister Dan Wilberforce said that Johnson was “dealt a significant blow” some years ago when he was made redundant from a pharmaceutical company where he had worked for 30 years.

“At this point he experienced a lack of direction, low mood and a depressive tendency,” added Mr Wilberforce.

The death of his sister and his father’s dementia diagnosis had compounded his depression and led to social isolation which in turn resulted in Johnson “watching more pornography, at first adult pornography but (then) gradually it became a bit more extreme and it was a vicious cycle”.

Judge Simon Hickey said the material found on Johnson’s devices showed he had an “illegal and unhealthy interest in children under-age”.

He said that Johnson’s offences were aggravated by the fact that some of the images found on his devices were videos and because police had to return to his home after he continued his pernicious behaviour after his initial arrest.

However, he said he could suspend the inevitable jail sentence because Johnson had led a hitherto “impeccable” life and was “entitled to draw on those characteristics”.

Johnson was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work and complete 25 rehabilitation-activity days.

He was ordered to sign on the sex-offenders’ register for 10 years and made to pay £600 costs.