Warning: the following article contains details some people may find offensive.
A Harrogate man who had a “totally unacceptable” interest in images of child abuse and extreme pornography has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Philip Grange, 53, of Hillside in Follifoot, appeared before York Crown Court this morning on a string of charges, including possessing an extreme pornographic image of a person performing an act of intercourse with a dog.
Grange was also charged with three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and three counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child.
He pleaded guilty to all charges.
Thousands of indecent images
Police arrested Grange on August 14, 2020, and seized a number of devices including nine mobile phones, a Samsung tablet, a laptop and a USB stick from his home.
Analysis of the technology found five of the mobile phones included indecent material.
A total of 650 category A images, which are the most graphic, and 37 videos were found, along with thousands of category B and C images.
Police also discovered 180 images of extreme pornography and 10 videos.
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Grange was also found to be using the Kik Messenger social media platform to request and distribute images.
The prosecution told the court that he also had “very explicit” conversations on the platform.
Ismael Uddin, defending Grange, said he had no previous convictions and was “socially isolated”.
He added that he was “remorseful” for making and distributing the images and was unlikely to offend again.
Mr Uddin said:
“All of them [the images] are of a disdainful nature.
“He is 53 years of age and is likely to not commit offences again. He has told me that he is no longer on the internet.”
‘Unacceptable’ and ‘perverted’
Sentencing Grange, Recorder Paul Reid told the 53-year-old that he had an “unacceptable” and “perverted” interest in pornography.
He said:
“You are described as a socially isolated individual who has a totally unacceptable and perverted interest in pornography and, in particular, images of child abuse.”
Mr Reid described Grange’s conversations on the “notorious” Kik platform as “utterly disgusting”.
He added that he noted that Grange told probation that he was “glad to be caught” as he “knew what he was doing was wrong”.
Grange was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to undertake 200 hours unpaid work, 40 days rehabilitation and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.