Michael Carter spared jail

Michael Carter was told yesterday that he deserved a prison sentence for sharing some of his photos, but was spared jail because he would get better treatment in the community.

His behaviour was branded “totally disgusting” by a judge who imposed a 12-month custodial term, suspended for two years, with Probation Service supervision.

Carter, 45, was also put on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, was banned from using computers, and was ordered to undergo a treatment programme.

Judge Tony Briggs told him: “This has been a close-run thing.

It is only because you are of hitherto good character and your pleas that allow me to take this course. This case clearly passes the custodial threshold, but as always in cases of this nature, the real problem is what’s best to do with you in the public interest.

“Locking people up and performing a deterrent is one possibility, and short prison sentences would not deal with the considerable difficulties that you suffer from.

“It is not that I have any sympathy for you in your particular situation – your behaviour was totally disgusting – however, that doesn’t resolve the overall problem.”

Teesside Crown Court heard how police raided Carter’s then home in Hartlepool last year after they received information from online investigators.

Four computers were seized and almost 2,000 indecent images were found by experts, who also discovered Carter had been in chat-rooms discussing incest.

Christine Egerton, mitigating, told the court that Carter’s marriage fell apart after his arrest, and he was now living with a new partner in Bedale, North Yorkshire.

She said the offences were committed while the former shop assistant was in “extreme depression”

but he had since sought counselling and recognised his problems.

Carter, of Ashtree Close, Bedale, admitted 16 specimen charges of making indecent images of children, and one count of possessing such pictures.