Judge tells pensioner 'you have lost your good character by committing these offences'

A pensioner was caught with a stash of indecent images of children when police raided his home after receiving details about suspicious online activity and seized mobile phones and laptops. Anthony Sumpton now realised that it was not "victimless" crime because the children shown in sickening scenes of sexual abuse were real youngsters, Hull Crown Court heard. Sumpton, 77, of Ellerburn Avenue, north Hull, admitted three offences of making indecent images of children on November 30, 2021.

Keep up to date with all the latest crime and court news from Hull with our free newsletter Marc Luxford, prosecuting, said that police went to Sumpton's home after they received information that he might be in possession of indecent images of children. Two mobile phones and two laptop computers were seized and examined. Images were found on three of the four devices.



There were a total of 56 images and videos in the most serious Category A as well as 16 in Category B and 201 in Category C. They were not all accessible. There were large numbers of different types of images and Sumpton seemed to have had them for a long time.

During police interview, Sumpton made no comment to all questions. He had no previous convictions. Hannah Turner, mitigating, said that Sumpton had been "naive in his ways" but he had since been very open about his offending.

"He wishes to pass on the remorse and also the shame that he feels," said Miss Turner. Sumpton appreciated that the offences were not victimless because real children were shown in the images. "He now realises that and he has shown significant shame for his involvement in that," said Miss Turner.

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We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here. "Up until now, there has not been a blemish on his record.

" He had expressed a willingness to engage with the probation service in seeking help. Judge Tahir Khan KC told Sumpton: "It's to your credit that you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. You have now lost your good character by committing these offences.

" Sumpton was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence and 30 days' rehabilitation. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years..