A research engineer from Hemel Hempstead who was caught with over 3,500 indecent images of children escaped going to prison yesterday, Friday 7.
Thomas Lennon, 55, also sent four Category B images to other paedophiles that he was talking to on Yahoo messenger.
Prosecutor Gabrielle McAvock said the police raided his former home in Copthorne, Luton on June 22, 2017.
When his Toshiba computer and memory sticks were examined the police found 559 Category A still and moving images, the highest level. There were 897 at Category B and 2,270 at Category C the lowest level.
Lennon had sent four Category B images over Yahoo Messenger. Five images of extreme pornography were also found.
He appeared for sentence at Luton Crown Court having pleaded guilty to three charges of making (downloading) indecent images of children, one of distributing indecent images, one of possessing indecent images and one of possessing extreme pornography.
The prosecutor said he was of previous good character.
Defending, James Smith-Wilds said after he had been released by the police Lennon sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation – a charity that works to prevent child sex abuse.
Judge Andrew Bright QC said: “You are a sad case of a man of 55 with a good job who seems, over the last decade, to have developed unhealthy interest of children being abused.”
He passed an eight-month jail sentence suspended for two years.
Lennon must carry out 35 days of a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
He must carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work. In addition, he must abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and register as a sex offender for 10 years.
