Bestiality found amid paedophile’s child rape collection
APAEDOPHILE with child rape videos was also caught with extreme porn of a person having sex with a dead dog.
Jamie Martin’s vile collection – amassed over a six-year period – featured 129 indecent images of young sex abuse victims.
The 34-year-old, of Eastbank Street, Southport, appeared in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing on Monday.
Martin previously admitted three counts of downloading and one count of possessing indecent images of children.
He also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornography.
According to the latter charge, the extreme porn portrayed a person “performing an act of intercourse with a dead animal, namely a dog”, which was “grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character”.
Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, said the indecent images of children included 22 Category A images – the most serious category, involving child rape – of which nine were videos.
She said there were 13 Category B images, of which four were videos, and 90 Category C files, of which nine were videos.
The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, said Category A files were at the “extreme” upper end of child sex abuse images.
The court heard they carry a starting point in sentencing guidelines of 12 months in prison, before aggravating and mitigating features are considered, which can increase or decrease the sentence.
Ms Nemat said one aggravating feature of the case was that the Category A collection included videos.
Recorder Unsworth said: “There is some reference to the defendant being active, with his involvement in a network.”
He added: “He candidly admits to having shared images.”
The court heard the period of time over which they were possessed was another aggravating feature, with Martin having downloaded the files between
January 14, 2014 and May 12, 2020.
Martin, who had no previous convictions, was unrepresented in court, after his case was previously adjourned at a hearing earlier this summer in order for him to obtain legal representation.
He told the judge he had been refused legal aid and couldn’t “afford” a solicitor or barrister.
The judge asked Martin whether he had looked into the “direct access scheme”, which he said was a way barristers can be instructed without instructing a solicitor as well, but the defendant said he was unaware of it.
Recorder Unsworth said: “This is a serious matter and as you’ve just heard, on the face of it these offences cross the custody threshold, in other words, they are sufficiently serious that the court will inevitably be considering a custodial sentence.
“Therefore it’s vital if at all possible that you are able to exhaust all opportunities before, if necessary, the court proceeds to sentence with you unrepresented. I have a duty to ensure there is fairness to you.”
The judge put the case back until later in the afternoon, when Martin reappeared in the dock and said he had tried to obtain a barrister to represent him by ringing local chambers, but was told none were available that day.
Recorder Unsworth adjourned sentencing until August 25 and remanded Martin on bail until that date after confirming it with him and the prosecution.
Martin said: “I work but I will get someone to cover my shift.”
The judge reminded him that securing legal representation for that hearing must be his “absolute priority”.
He said: “I have to warn you, if you don’t have representation on the next occasion there is a strong likelihood the case will proceed to sentence.” amount of money. At the end of the day you have to take it on the chin and carry on.”
Merseyside Police is now appealing for information and enquiries are ongoing.
Community Policing Inspector Graham Fisher said: “It really beggars belief that someone could stoop as low as stealing tips from a local business, who like so many people in our community, have endured a turbulent 18 months.
“We believe that the person pictured in CCTV images may hold vital information, so come forward if you recognise them and we will do the rest.”
Anyone who can help can pass information via @MerPolCC on Twitter, ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook, quoting incident reference 21000568249, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.