Telford man jailed for child porn

David Shields, 33, admitted three charges of possessing indecent images of a child, including three pictures at level five, the highest level, and two pictures at level four.

He also admitted having two indecent videos of children, one of which was at level five.

Shields, from Farm Lane, Donnington, appeared in front of Judge Robin Onions at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.

He was sentenced to 16 months in prison, ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years, placed under a sexual offences public order for 10 years and barred from working with children for life.

Mr Nicholas Burn, prosecuting, said the images had been downloaded from the internet by Shields in June 2011.

He said Shields had been at his then-girlfriend's house watching one of the videos when he was caught.

"She was watching the television and Shields was at the computer desk a little distance away," Mr Burn said.

"She caught sight of what he was watching. She was disgusted at what she could see and challenged him as to why he was watching child porn. Shields stuttered and turned it off."

Mr Michael Sherwood-Smith, for Shields, said Shields had told him that he needed help and wanted to move on.

Judge Onions told Shields: "In normal circumstances someone like this would not get a custodial sentence, but the problem for you is your criminal record.

"You have previous convictions for indecent assault, indecent exposure, gross indecency with a female child and possession of indecent photographs of a child.

"There should be a public protection plan put in place for you as soon as you are released from prison.

"I think you know you've got a problem, but you are teetering on the edge of a very, very long prison sentence. You've got to change."