'Incest-search' Beeston dad downloaded hundreds of child-abuse images claiming it was just 'curiosity'

Matthew Benjamin Townsend was adamant he had no sexual interest in youngsters, despite police finding hundreds of Category A photos and videos on his laptop and mobile phone – the most serious type.

The 38-year-old told police he had “gone down a rabbit hole” while looking on the internet and was at a low ebb at the time, suffering from heart problems that required surgery.

His claim was rejected Recorder Anthony Hawks at Leeds Crown Court, who told him: “I’m happy to accept that you have health difficulties but many do, it doesn’t mean they look at indecent images.

"I’m not prepared to accept that it was some peculiar one-off. Anyone looking at this material and sharing it has a sexual interest in children. You are to blame just the same as those who make them.”

Prosecutor Emily Hoskins said police had visited his home on March 8 last year after his IP address was seen to be downloading the vile images via the messenger app, KIK.

His internet devices were seized and during interview fully admitted the offences and sharing files with other perverts. He had searched for “kinky sex” and “incest” over the internet.

Officers found 273 Category A images and videos, 149 Category B and 121 Category C. He claimed he downloaded the files over a “two-week period”.

He then rang the police the next day and said he wanted to fully co-operate and said downloading took place over longer period than he first stated.

Townsend, of Colwyn Avenue, Beeston, admitted three counts of making indecent photos.

Mitigating, Catherine Silverton said: “He did something that he finds abhorrent, he was at an all-time low. I’m not sure how many times a defendant has admitted more than he has been accused of. He is genuinely remorseful.”

He has self-funded a therapist and was open about his offending with his family. Townsend was given an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, put on the sex offenders register for 10 years and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to limit his internet use.