Bromsgrove man who made indecent images of children avoids jail - The Bromsgrove Standard

Bromsgrove man who made indecent images of children avoids jail

Bromsgrove Editorial 8th Sep, 2018   0

A BROMSGROVE man was given a two-year suspended sentence yesterday after being found guilty of three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing animal porn.

Jonathon Ozanne, aged 57, was handed the sentence at Worcester Crown Court.

During the trial, the jury reached unanimous guilty verdicts after hearing evidence that Ozanne had downloaded software known as the ‘dark web’ to view the indecent images of children.

The defendant, from Finstall Road, had denied making the images at categories A, B and C.




Category A images were allegedly showing penetrative sexual activity between adults and children – which was considered the most serious of the three.

The images were downloaded between January 31, 2009 and March 15, 2015.


Recorder John Benson QC told Ozanne that if he committed anymore crimes during the suspended sentence he would automatically face 12 months behind bars,  the longest amount of time given out of the three categories.

To avoid jail Ozanne must also not work with children and he must attend a treatment programme.

Ozanne’s computer, which contained the images, was ordered to be destroyed.

Before the sentencing Lynn Morris, Probation Officer at Worcester Crown court, said: “I do not believe Mr Ozanne to be a ‘high risk’ sexual offender in the community and with the right treatment has the potential to become a ‘low risk’.

“He has shown signs of understanding the severity of his crimes.

“If he were to go to jail he would lose his home business, which he runs with his girlfriend.

“A jail sentence could be potentially catastrophic as she would not be able to carry on without his support.

“If he is able to remain in the community he would be closely monitored.”

After retiring for a short time, Recorder John Benson QC returned the verdict, saying: “The evidence against you during the trial was powerful.

“You pleaded not guilty after you had initially admitted the charge following your arrest in 2015 during which you led officers to believe the computer with the indecent images on could have been used by someone else in your home and that is a terrible thing to do.

“This was not accidental, you downloaded the dark web software and sought it out.

“However, based on what Miss Morris has told the court today, your poor health and the fact it’s been three years since your initial arrest, I believe a two-year suspended sentence to be a fitting punishment.

“But do not forget, you have come extremely close to going to prison today and you will go straight there if you break any of my orders.”

Ozanne was also ordered to pay £2,500 prosecution legal fees over the next 12 months.

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