Net porn policeman jailed for 18 months

A Chester policeman found guilty of possessing child pornography of "the vilest possible nature" blamed media coverage for sparking his addiction to the material.

Robert McInnes, a 46-year old police constable, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months jail, after pleading guilty to 14 counts relating to the possession of 15,000 indecent photographs of children. According to the court report, on icCheshire Online, pornographic images are graded by the police from one through to five in severity. McInnes had images in all five categories.

His brief, Sue Goddard, told the court that McInnes "finds it almost impossible to explain how he commenced with his habit. He says he simply couldn't stop," said Miss Goddard. "Part of the appeal was the excitement of doing something illegal that he thought would never be caught."

McInnes, single and a policeman for 27 years, will be added to the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years, following his release.

You can read the full report at icCheshire Online. ®

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