A pedophile caught viewing child sexual abuse footage was spared prison because of his own past as a victim.
Anthony Lowe, who has previously been prosecuted for possession of child sexual abuse, was given a suspended sentence instead of being sent straight to prison.
The 51-year-old former prison warden had downloaded 85 category A images (penetration, bestiality or sadism), 19 category B and 46 category C images when he was arrested on October 28 last year.
Judge Benjamin Nolan told him, “The most obvious way to deal with you is to send you to prison immediately.
“But I read your psychiatric report that shows you have your demons from being abused as a child.”
He came to this decision after Lowe’s lawyer also told Teesside Crown Court how her client had become ‘isolated and depressed’ during the lockdown.
His partner worked in a care home and Lowe was left alone for a long time.
“This was a temporary setback,” the lawyer said.
The court also heard how Lowe “has chronic PTSD after witnessing the death of a colleague at work and of an inmate committing suicide.”
His partner has now adjusted her working hours so that she can be home with him on weekends.
Lowe, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years.
He was ordered to attend a licensed sex offender treatment program and 60 days of rehab.
He also signs the register of sex offenders for 10 years.
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