Young sex offender spared jail after saving hundreds of indecent child images

Eduard-adrian Nanora, 19, was given a 16 months prison sentence suspended for two years. Since he was 16 at the time of the offences, there is no guideline for handling underage defendants in possession of extreme pornographic images, the court heard.

He pleaded guilty to all counts against him in a previous trial.

Police found a total of 380 photos, including 85 Category A images, 143 Category B images and 152 Category C images when they arrested Nanora at his home on Bentley Road in March 2020, the court heard.

At Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge Graham Reeds KC said: "Serious offences usually come with severe consequences, but your life has changed substantially because of the delay in your case.

"I intend to consider a lower sentence on the count of your age and immaturity."

Devereux Chambers

He said the starting point of a category A offence is 12 months of imprisonment but because of Nanora's age and him not having previous criminal record, it was reduced to category B.

Possession of category B indecent images has a starting point of high-level community order and carries a maximum jail time of 18 months.

Judge Reeds KC ordered Nanora to attend Horizon or similar rehabilitation programme, which is designed to reduce risk of reconviction, for 35 days.

Nanora, who was 16 at the time of the arrest, claimed his online friend sent him links to access the images and he "unintentionally" downloaded the resources.

The indecent images police seized on his computer featured minors between three months and 15 years old and a majority of them are at the age of four to six, the court was told.

Judge Reeds KC also told Nanora he must sign on the sex offender register for five years.

He added: "If you fail to attend rehabilitation, I can send you back to prison.

"But I hope you can get your life back on track."