Paedophile’s jail term slashed on appeal by judges
A PAEDOPHILE caught with a teddy bear which was dressed up in children’s clothing had his jail term slashed by a panel of senior judges.
Robert Farrow, 24, of St Cuthbert’s Drive, Heworth, Gateshead, was jailed for 11 years and four months at Newcastle Crown Court on December 16.
He admitted three counts of sexual assault on girls under 13 and making, taking and distributing indecent photos of children.
Police searched Farrow’s home on June 6 last year, Sir David CalvertSmith told London’s Appeal Court on Tuesday.
They found a pair of trainers identical to those seen in indecent images of children found on a Russian file-sharing website.
His mobile phones and a laptop were seized by police.
There were just short of 1,000 category B images and nearly 250 category C photos on the phones.
On the laptop, they found 53 of the most obscene category A videos and 86 images.
There were also 22 videos and 106 photos in category B and 49 videos and 3,505 images in category C.
Farrow sexually assaulted one girl by putting his hand on her back and moving it around to her bottom area.
He took indecent photographs of two other victims and distributed them to others.
When arrested, he was in possession of 100 or more items of young girls’ clothing and a dressed-up teddy bear.
Lawyers for Farrow argued that his sentence was “unjust and disproportionate” and ought to be cut.
They pointed to his youth, previous good character and guilty pleas.
Sir David said the question was whether the overall jail term was “manifestly excessive”.
“We have come to the conclusion, after careful consideration, that it was,” added the judge, sitting with Lord Justice Davis and Sir Nicholas Blake.
“A total sentence of eight years and six months would meet the justice of this case,” he concluded, upholding the appeal.