A paedophile caught viewing child sex abuse images was spared jail because of his own past as a victim.
Anthony Lowe, who has been prosecuted for possessing child sex abuse before, was handed a suspended sentence rather than being sent straight to prison.
The 51-year-old former prison warden had downloaded 85 category A images (penetration, bestiality or sadism), 19 category B and 46 category C images when he was busted on October 28 last year.
Judge Benjamin Nolan told him: ‘The most obvious way of dealing with you would be to send you immediately to prison.
‘However, I’ve read your psychiatric report which indicates that you have your demons as a result of being abused as a child.’
He came to this decision after Lowe’s defence lawyer also told Teesside Crown Court how her client had become ‘isolated and depressed’ during lockdown.
His partner was working in a care home and Lowe was left on his own for long periods of time.
‘This was a momentary relapse,’ the attorney said.
The court also heard how Lowe ‘has chronic PTSD after witnessing a work colleague die and an inmate committing suicide’.
His partner has now rearranged her working hours so she can be at home with him on the weekends.
Lowe, from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was handed a 12-month prison term, suspended for two-years.
He was ordered to attend an accredited sex offender treatment programme and 60 rehabilitation days.
He will also sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.
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