Paedophile from Leeds who admitted sharing vile images and fantasies online avoids custody
He confessed to speaking with 16-year-old
A pervert who downloaded hundreds of sickening abuse images confessed to sharing some with other paedophiles.
Gregory Taylor openly admitted passing on the illegal images while part of a group of sick-minded people, but was only charged with possession.
Had he faced distribution charges, he would have likely received a more stern stence.
No explanation was given at Leeds Crown Court as to the choice of charges the Crown put to the 57-year-old.
The court heard that police, acting on intelligence, arrested Taylor on September 17 last year.
His internet devices were seized and a forensic analysis unearthed 142 images regarded as Category A, which are the most serious involving the rape of children.
There was also 59 Category B images and 29 in Category C.
Taylor, of Grange Park Road, Roundhay, had spent six months downloading the illegal images, which involved children as young as two.
Officers also found search terms such as “gay paedo porn” on his devices.
When being interviewed, he confessed he had spoken to a 16-year-old online and discussed sexual fantasies.
Taylor also said he was part of an online group with other paedophiles swapping the disgusting images.
It was heard that Taylor had a previous sexual conviction but it was dissimilar to the charges he faced this week.
Little mitigation was offered by his barrister, Anthony Sugare, after the judge said he would not lock Taylor up.
Recorder Anthony Hawks told Taylor: “You have a perverted interest in young children being sexually abused.
“Do you realise the catastrophic harm being done to these children? You are part of that.
“If this happens again you are going straight to prison.”
He gave him a nine-month sentence, suspended for 24 months, with a probation requirement and 150 hours of unpaid work to be completed.
He was put on the sex offender register for 10 years, and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) which allows his internet use to be monitored by police.