A paedophile has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years after admitting making more than 300 indecent images of children.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how, acting on intelligence, officers executed a warrant at the home of 32-year-old Rocky Watton in Bramble Road, Witham on March 4 last year.

Officers seized various computer equipment including laptops, hard drives and a USB stick, which were found to contain:

  • 178 Category A images and films (Category A is the most serious category of abuse imagery)
  • 96 Category B images and films
  • 49 Category C images

Watton admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.

He was given a nine-month jail term suspended for two years, made the subject of a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

He was also ordered to carry out 120-hours of unpaid work, 20 days of rehabilitation activity and was ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge.

Det Sgt Ashley Howard, who is leading the specialist team behind the crackdown, said: “We have now searched 65 homes and arrested 58 people as part of this additional crackdown on those downloading, viewing or distributing indecent images of children.

“We will continue to leave no stone unturned in targeting those who commit these types of offences in our county as protecting our children remains a priority for Essex Police.”

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which is the only UK-wide child protection charity focused solely on preventing child sexual abuse, offers support to adults concerned about their sexual thoughts and behaviour towards children.

The charity runs Stop it Now! – a child sexual abuse prevention campaign and helpline.

For more information on how Stop it Now! helps people address their online behaviour, visit stopitnow.org.uk or call 0808 1000 900.