Paedophile Shaun Scotthorne Jailed for Possessing Hundreds of Child Abuse Images
A 41-year-old man from Middlesborough has been locked up for over two years after being caught with a massive stash of indecent images of children. Shaun Scotthorne was sentenced to 26 months behind bars at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, September 18.
Shameful Collection Seized by Police
Scotthorne, of Runnymede Green, admitted guilt to multiple charges, including taking and making indecent images of children during a hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court in June.
Police swooped on his Southampton home in June 2021, seizing two phones and a memory card. Hampshire Constabulary’s Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) uncovered a horrifying haul:
- 137 Category C images
- 53 Category B images
- 64 Category A images (the most serious)
- 5 extreme images
- 57 prohibited images
Serious Sentencing Includes Indefinite Restrictions
Alongside his jail term, Scotthorne has been slapped with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He must also register with the police permanently, under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Assistant Detective Sergeant Angela Smith-Jones, who led the probe, condemned Scotthorne’s offences, saying: “Behind every indecent image of a child is a vulnerable victim, and these crimes are among the most appalling that we investigate.”
She expressed relief that Scotthorne will serve time and face strict controls to protect children in the future.
Police Pledge to Keep Fighting Child Exploitation
Detective Sergeant Smith-Jones vowed that police will remain relentless in tackling online child abuse. “Bringing offenders to justice and safeguarding children online is a top priority for us,” she added.
