Man caught hiding indecent images is sent to jail

Christopher Standing, of Eden Terrace, Lynemouth, was arrested by officers from Northumbria Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team after he had unknowingly shared disturbing images of child abuse with an undercover officer.

When officers attended his home, he denied his offending before handing over his mobile phone and asking if he could use the bathroom.

The 66-year-old was followed to his bathroom, where he was caught dropping to his knees and rummaging in a cupboard that had been discreetly built into the bath panel and removing another device.

Standing was immediately arrested and detectives seized his devices – uncovering scores of category A images, those graded the most serious.

On Thursday, January 7, he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and was jailed for four years and eight months after previously pleading guilty to five counts of making indecent images of children, one count of distributing indecent images of children and breaching of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Dave Kernaghan from Northumbria Police said: “Standing took great lengths to conceal his device in a special compartment in his bathroom and then even attempted to get rid of this while officers were in his home.”