Sex abuse victim kept indecent child images

DAMIAN MULDOWNEY

A VICTIM of abuse as a child turned to drink and drugs, then vile sex pictures of children on the internet to blank out his own demons, a court was told.

Damian Muldowney (42) was found to have more than 500 indecent images of youngsters on his computer equipment after police raided his Oldham home in early December last year.

Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard that the majority of them - almost 300 pictures and videos - were in the most serious category A bracket, and in addition there were 20 images classed as extreme pornography.

Sentencing him, Judge Andrew Lowcock told him at least one image showed a child in pain and distress, and normally he would have been sent to jail immediately.

He said, however, that psychiatric profiles painted a worrying picture of his mental state of health which suggested he could both be punished, but better helped by a non-custodial sentence.

Lisa Boocock, prosecuting, said the images had been retrieved from Muldowney's computer equipment after officers executed a search warrant at his home on Anchor Street, Oldham, on December 2.

John Kennerley defending, said his client now fully accepted the grave nature of the images, and the "catastrophic" effects that could be suffered by many of the vulnerable child victims.

He said Muldowney had had considerable problems of his own, including being abused at a young age, which had manifested themselves in his drink and drug abuse.

He was said to have suffered a series of personality disorders including depression and anxiety, and suffered from emotional problems.

Mr Kennerley said he described viewing the indecent images as a distraction from his own problems.

Sentencing him, Judge Lowcock told him that viewing such pictures and videos helped a "disgusting trade to flourish".

Muldowney, who had pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children, one of possession of indecent images of children, and two counts of possession of extreme pornographic images, was given a total of eight months' prison, suspended for two years.

He will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, and have to take part in an internet sex offenders' treatment programme.