Man had more than 200 child abuse images on computer

A MAN who claimed more than 200 child abuse images had been downloaded onto his computer by somebody else, has been found guilty of possessing indecent images.
Graham BrookesGraham Brookes
Graham Brookes

Graham Brookes (51), of St Nicolas Road, Rawmarsh, was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court of six counts of making indecent images of children, one of distributing indecent images of children and one of possessing extreme pornography involving an animal.

Brookes denied all the charges and claimed someone had hacked into his computer and accessed the indecent images.

But a jury took just over an hour to reject his account after a two-day trial.

Ms Nicola Quinney, prosecuting, said Brookes’ home was raided by police on October 9, 2015, and his computer tower and laptop seized.

Forensic examination revealed the devices contained 38 category A images (the most extreme level) including 11 films, 28 category B images, 158 category C images and extreme pornography involving an animal.

She said the accessible images had been created between 2012 and October 2015 - a week before police raided Brookes’ home.

Ms Quinney said: “Also seized was his mobile phone, that didn’t contain any indecent images of children, but officers found messages on his Facebook profile of a concerning nature.”

One of the conversations from Brookes’ Facebook account was with a man who had asked him: “How’s things, got any dirty pictures for me lol.”

Brookes replied: “Lol, you after a nice dirty birthday treat, mate?

“Got some on PC and not phone, will send some tonight.”

Brookes had numerous Skype accounts in which he exchanged indecent messages with other paedophiles, the court heard.

Ms Quinney said: “Also in the account, a number of images appear to have been transferred between users.”

Brookes made no comment during two police interviews and claimed in court his computer had been hacked into.

He was bailed and will be sentenced at the same court on March 1.