Man, 38, admits to porn, drug possession

A GEORGE resident has admitted in court to being in possession of 56 822 images and videos of child pornography.

Tyrone James, 38, also admitted to being in possession of tik and dagga.

James, who worked as a driver for his mother’s gardening business, was on his way to a client in March 2016 when he was pulled over at a police roadblock. After searching his vehicle an officer searched him and found tik and dagga.

In his plea, James said: “I was allowed to make a phone call (at the roadblock) and thereafter the officer took my cellphone.

“When the officer inspected my phone he discovered some photos containing child pornography, and photos of the dagga plants that I was growing at home for my own personal use. Thereafter I was taken to the police station.”

Later that day police searched James’s home, and confiscated 11 computer hard drives, floppy discs, a computer with four hard drives and DVDs and CDs, leading to the discovery of child pornography.

James said: “I admit that I was in possession of 56 822 images and/or videos containing child pornography.

“I downloaded all these images and videos containing child pornography from the internet – from a site where these types of images can be downloaded for free.”

He said he had grown the 42 dagga plants that were also found at his home.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the case had been postponed to May 22, and the defence had asked for a pre-sentencing report and a report by a psychologist.