Sex offender sentenced

Police found a number of indecent images and videos of children when they seized computer equipment from David Stansfield’s home in Stirrup Close, York, on December 31, 2010.

Of the images recovered, the majority - 84 – were classed as the lowest level of severity. However, seven other images and a video were categorised as hardcore and the second was of the highest severity.

Alan Mitcheson, prosecuting at the sentencing hearing at York Crown Court, said this had been “just the tip of the iceberg” and forensic experts later found a number of other indecent child images deleted from the 36-year-old’s computer files.

He said Stansfield was questioned a year after his arrest – due to the amount of time the experts had to spend examining the computer equipment. In his police interview he told police he had bought the computers second-hand in an auction. He later admitted charges of making and possessing indecent photos of a child and possessing extreme pornographic images.

Andrew Semple, for Stansfield, said as a result of the charges, Stansfield’s girlfriend had left him, and his future as a manager for an American-based company was uncertain. Mr Semple said Stansfield had developed an addiction for adult pornography which later led to him downloading indecent images and videos of children.

He said as a result of the charges and the “shame he undoubtedly felt”, Stansfield had sought medical treatment for anxiety and stress as he waited two years for his court hearing.

Sentencing Stansfield, the Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, pictured, said as he was a hard-working man, of previous good character, he would be spared an immediate jail sentence.

He sentenced Stansfield to a three-year community order, and ordered him to complete a sex offender’s rehabilitation order. Stansfield was also given an order restricting his internet usage for five years and was placed on the sex offenders’ register.