Software engineer Ian Battson admits having cartoon sex photos
by Lynn Cox
A software engineer obsessed with looking at adult pornography
has admitted having images of cartoon characters having sex with
child characters.
Ian Battson, 34, pleaded guilty to possessing 551 such images,
which showed adult characters having sex with young characters such
as those from popular TV series The Simpsons.
Battson, who apparently became obsessed with searching for adult
porn on the internet, was found with the images on his computer
when police raided his home in Chatham.
Battson had earlier pleaded guilty to the offence at Medway
Magistrates’ Court and his sentence had been adjourned.
This week District Judge Michael Kelly was told Battson, of Fort
Pitt Street, Chatham, had accidentally uploaded the cartoon images,
which were ruled illegal to own in 2010, when he uploaded
pornographic pictures.
Some of the prohibited images also contained Japanese Manga
cartoon characters depicting similar sexual scenarios.
When police examined the search history on his computer they
found Battson had never tried to search for indecent images of
children, however, detectives found he had accidently downloaded a
few indecent images of children, but had deleted them.
He was never charged with being in possession of indecent images
of children.
"He has an obsession with fantasy and erotic art and animation and has learnt a very valuable lesson" – Sarah Alexander, defending, of Battson
Matthew Quantrill,
prosecuting, said: “He never got round to deleting the prohibited
images and told police he does not have any sexual attachment for
children.
“It was an accidental by-product of downloading pornography, he
had not searched for them, he had some 300,000 images (of
pornography), on his computer and had downloaded the cartoon images
in 2008 and 2009.
“He said he knew some were there and but he never got round to
deleting any of them.”
Battson, who is suffering from depression and lives on his own
also has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). He started viewing
pornography and exotic and fantasy art at the age of 18 and his
obsession had developed from there.
Sacha Alexander, defending, said her client had co-operated
fully with officers and was of previous good character.
She added: “In 2008 and 2009 it was not an offence then, but he
admits possession now.
“He has an obsession with fantasy and erotic art and animation
and has learnt a very valuable lesson.”
District Judge Kelly decided against giving Battson a sexual
offences prevention order, as he didn’t pose a risk to the
public.
He placed him on a 12-month community order which will involve
him working with the probation service on his obsession with
pornography, which would also involve counselling.
He said: “I order you have a year supervision and it is up to
probation what that entails.
“You had a huge volume of stuff, you were a computer expert and
should have known better.”
Battson was ordered to pay £85 court costs.
25/01/13
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