AN engineer who used his social media account to distribute indecent images of children has walked free from court after a judge ordered him to complete unpaid work.
Ian Mulford had his devices seized by police when officers executed a search warrant of his address in Mill Hill, Mistley, in November 2022.
Investigators found nearly 898 indecent photographs of children, 18 of which were category A, the most serious kind.
There were 71 category B images found and 809 classified as category C, Ipswich Crown Court heard on Wednesday.
Further investigations found Mulford, who is a structural engineer, had used his account on X to distribute a significant number of these images.
After mitigating barrister Sean Sullivan told the judge Mulford was a man of good character, His Honour Recorder Jeremy Benson KC said: “I’m not going to send him to prison.
“He has demonstrated that possibility of rehabilitation.”
Mr Sullivan added: “He is in a stable relationship with his partner.
“He is in stable employment – he is a structural engineer and has been for the last six years.
“He is an employed individual with the busy existence that entails.”
Addressing the severity of the images, Mr Sullivan continued: “The vast bulk of images are category C and the same applies in relation to distribution – there is a much smaller number of category B images and large number of category C images.”
When passing his sentence, the judge said the offences could have resulted in a jail term but said he took into account his age and good character.
He said: “You have been waiting two and a half years for the matter to come to this court.
“That is not your fault – you admitted the offences in interview and you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity in the magistrates’ court.
“I also take into account the fact that you have clearly shown remorse.
“There are substantial grounds for believing that you can be rehabilitated.
“Because of all the mitigating features, I am just about swayed.”
Mulford, 46, must carry out a two-year community order which includes 40 accredited programme sessions, and 100 hours of unpaid work.
He must also pay a £1,000.
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