South Tyneside man put on sex offender register as indecent child images found on his phone
A Jarrow man has been put on the sex offender register after indecent images of children found on his phone.
A South Tyneside man has been placed on the sex offender register and handed a suspended prison term after being found in possession of two indecent child images.
Cameron Walton, 27, of Leicester Way, Fellgate, Jarrow, walked free from court after being jailed for 18 weeks but with the sentence suspended for 15 months.
He was also placed on the offender register – which creates checks including on his whereabouts and overseas travel - for seven years.
Magistrates in South Tyneside heard he was caught with one image at the most serious category A and another at category C by police on October 27, 2024.
The category A image showed a girl thought to be aged between 13 and 15 engaging in sexual behaviour, prosecutor Stephen Davies said.
And the category C was of a child of similar age.
‘Didn’t believe there was indecent images on his phone’
Mr Davies added: “The police attended the home address of Mr Walton and conducted a search, and he was arrested.
“He was found in possession of two photos after his mobile phone was seized from him.
“There was an examination, and his phone was found to have two child images which led to these charges.
“Mr Walton was interviewed and said that he didn’t believe there was indecent images on his phone.”
Jobless Walton pleaded guilty to two counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child between September 1 and October 13, 2024, at an earlier hearing.
Alastair Naismith, defending, told magistrates: “I don’t think you can say there’s anything exceptional about Mr Walton himself or about the case.
“If you do accept that you can deal with this here today, it’s 18 months or less with credit and a suspended sentence that you’re looking at.”
‘Very serious offence’
Magistrates also sentenced Walton to 20 rehabilitation days and 12 sessions of a mental health support programme, and he must pay a £154 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
John Lee, chair of the bench, told him: “Although it’s a very serious offence, we often see people charged with multiple images. Yours is one on each of the charges.”