Blind defendant ‘didn’t know when viewing underage sex’

A MAN charged with viewing child pornography did not know he was looking at images of under-16s because he is blind, a court has heard.

Andrew Shaw, 44, was aided into Blackpool Magistrates’ Court by his black Labrador guide dog.

His wife, not accused of any crime but there to support her husband, is also blind and was led to the court by her white Labrador.

Shaw, of Derby Road, Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, faces three offences of possessing 71 downloaded obscene images of children on his computer, including 12 images alleged to be of the worst variety.

Allan Cobain, his lawyer, said: “This is an unusual case as my client is registered blind. He has no sight in one eye and only a small amount in the other.”

“It may be argued that difficulty with his vision makes it difficult for him to put an age to images he downloads.

“He may think he is looking at 16-year-olds.”

The case was adjourned and Shaw was granted bail.