Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

First Internet child-porn jailing

Thursday 04 January 1996 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A father of two from Solihull, West Midlands, yesterday became the first person in Britain to be jailed for receiving child pornography through the Internet.

Martin Crumpton, 44, a former computer consultant, was jailed for three months after admitting six charges of being in possession of indecent pictures of children. He had admitted the specimen charges at a preliminary hearing in December, when his case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports. His arrest followed Operation Starburst, an international police crackdown last July.

John Davies, for the prosecution, had told Birmingham magistrates that Crumpton had admitted possessing the pictures out of a "morbid curiosity". A police expert found three files on his computers holding 119 pictures. The majority were indecent photographs of children, some only six years old.Fergal Bloomer, for the defence, said: "Over a short period of time, due to considerable financial difficulty and death within the family, he has become withdrawn."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in