Child’s Images On Net, Court Told

A man put images of his four-year-old daughter on the internet, a bail court in Belfast has heard. A Crown lawyer said the child was clothed and the images were not indecent, but conversations with other internet users were sexually explicit. The 34-year-old father of one is accused of making, possessing and distributing indecent photographs of children. The man’s name was witheld to prevent his daughter being identified.

A Crown lawyer said the man was arrested earlier this month after police received information that a person using a certain e-mail address was accessing chat rooms frequented by others interested in child abuse. His computer was seized and during interview he made full and frank admissions about his activities. These included down-loading indecent images of children, storing them and sending them to at least 20 others with similar sexual interests in children.

The lawyer said: “According to him, the images depicted children as young as five in sexual activity with adults.” She said the court might consider bail provided there were stringent conditions.

Lord Justice Nicholson released the man on bail of £1,400 but ordered him to live at an address well removed from his home. He also banned him from having contact with his daughter unless under supervision. The judge also banned the man from unsupervised contact with anyone under 17 and said he must not access the internet. The man also has to report to the police every day and observe a curfew from 0700 GMT until 1900 GMT.