January 2018

Witham paedophile avoids jail after making 323 indecent images of children

A paedophile has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years after admitting making more than 300 indecent images of children.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how, acting on intelligence, officers executed a warrant at the home of 32-year-old Rocky Watton in Bramble Road, Witham on March 4 last year.

Officers seized various computer equipment including laptops, hard drives and a USB stick, which were found to contain:

  • 178 Category A images and films (Category A is the most serious category of abuse imagery)

  • 96 Category B images and films

  • 49 Category C images

Watton admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.

He was given a nine-month jail term suspended for two years, made the subject of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

He was also ordered to carry out 120-hours of unpaid work, 20 days of rehabilitation activity and was ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge.