Defiant paedophile pensioner downloaded sickening images at his home
He took the matter to trial despite overwhelming evidence
A pervert claims he had no sexual interest in children, despite downloading images of children as young as four being abused.
Pensioner Christopher Pitchforth was found guilty of three counts of making indecent images following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.
It was heard that the the 65-year-old had downloaded the vile images between 2018 and 2023, and had done his best to cover his tracks, deleting the images and using a VPN to hide his sick online activity.
Police were tipped off and went to his home address on Cumbrian Way, Wakefield, in June 2023 to arrest him.
They seized two phones, a laptop and a tablet.
They found three Category A images - the most serious that included the rape of a girl.
There were also two Category B images and three in Category C.
There were also searches found including “incest” and “teens”, prosecutor Holly Clegg told the court.
During the two-day trial he admitted he had watched adult porn with actors made up to look like children, and said he was “still 16 in his head”, despite his advancing years.
But he continued to deny wrongdoing. He was not believed by the jury who convicted him of possessing Category A, B and C images.
He has no previous convictions.
Mitigating, Mohammed Rafiq said Pitchforth had “foolishly got involved” but had remained out of trouble since.
He added: “He is unlikely to let the court system down.”
The judge, Recorder Richard Paige, gave him a two-year sentence, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days to complete.
He was put on the sex offender register for 10 years and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) to curb his internet use.