Man sentenced for making indecent images of children following Southampton arrest

A 41-year-old man has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after being found in possession of indecent images of children.

Shaun Scotthorne, 41, of Runnymede Green, Middlesborough, was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Monday (18 September), to 26 months in prison. He was also issued with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to register his details with the police indefinitely in accordance with the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

This follows a hearing on Tuesday 13 June at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, in which Scotthorne pleaded guilty to taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child and three counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.

Police arrested Scotthorne at an address in Southampton in June 2021 on suspicion of the above offences and seized two phones and a memory card.

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Internet Child Abuse Team (ICAT) analysed the devices and discovered hundreds of images of abuse involving children, including 137 Category C images, 53 Category B images and 64 Category A images, which are the most serious. Five extreme and 57 prohibited images were also found.

A/Detective Sergeant Angela Smith-Jones, who led the investigation, said: “Behind every indecent image of a child is a vulnerable victim and these crimes are among the most appalling that we investigate.

“The nature of the images we found on his devices shows that Scotthorne clearly poses a risk to children and we are pleased that he will now spend time in prison for what he has done. He will also have strict conditions imposed upon him as part of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

“Tackling online viewing of indecent images and safeguarding children online is a priority for police and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice.”

Anyone who has any concerns about child abuse should contact us on 101.

We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to speak to police, but there are support services available that can help you if you are a victim of abuse.

Anyone who has experienced abuse in childhood or is concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline confidentially on 0808 800 5000 or email [email protected]. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.