Chemistry student, 19, caught distributing images of child abuse

A CHEMISTRY student caught distributing images of child abuse has been given a suspended sentence.

Danrick Magno, 19, of Whaddon Avenue, Oakley, admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of children and four of distribution.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC, sitting at Gloucester Crown Court, heard that among the images police found on Magno’s laptop and mobile phone, there were 206 category A, the most serious images of child abuse.

Prosecutor James Haskell said police executed a search warrant on March 29 at Magno’s address.

Investigators had become aware that email addresses and Twitter accounts associated with Magno were being used to store and distribute images of children.

Magno initially denied any knowledge of the images but by his second interview he made admissions to the police, Mr Haskell said.

When his laptop and phone were examined, officers found 206 category A images, 111 of category B, and 80 category C. “It was clear he was involved via Twitter with communicating with others about the distribution, in part for financial motivation,” Mr Haskell said.

Some images showed boys as young as three years old, the court heard.

Magno told police that he had no sexual interest in children, but by the time of meeting a probation officer for a pre-sentence report he had changed his position, Mr Haskell said.

The prosecutor asked for the laptop and phone to be destroyed, which the judge ordered.

The judge confirmed that Magno had no previous convictions, but said: “This goes beyond mere perverse imagery. Some victims are three.”

Mark Linehan, representing Magno, said he accepted the starting point for sentence before a discount for an early guilty plea was three years jail.

He said his client showed remorse and had entered an early guilty plea.

Mr Linehan argued that a third discount for an early guilty plea meant the jail term could be suspended.

The judge agreed and imposed a 20-month jail term suspended for two years. He also ordered Magno to attend a sex offenders treatment programme.

”If anyone needs to sit in a room and talk about his issues it is him,” the judge said. “He is contributing to the process of appalling sexual abuse.”

Magno was ordered to sign the sex offender register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for seven years. “You must have a dark corner to look at this disgusting material,” the judge concluded.