A BASINGSTOKE man has avoided jail after police found hundreds of indecent images of children on electronic devices belonging to him. 

Police confiscated a computer, two smartphones and a USB stick from the home of Dean Richard John Clayton.

Officers were not able to access the USB stick, which Clayton maintained he got from a gym and did not have the password for, but indecent images of children were found on the other devices - some of children as young as four-years-old. 

On Monday, September 5, Clayton, of Daneshill Court, Lychpit, appeared at Winchester Crown Court to be sentenced. 

Matthew Lawson, prosecuting, said: “The computer and the two smartphones had indecent images of children – some of them were moving images. There was a password for the USB stick, which police could not access.

“The defendant’s (ex) girlfriend had told the police that Clayton told her that if police got access to the contents of the USB stick ‘his life would be over’. However, the defendant maintained to the police that he did not have a password and he got the USB stick from a gym.

“The defendant also had an app on his smartphone which looked like a calculator. It was in fact a spy app protected by a password. Indecent images were hidden inside this app.”

At an earlier hearing, after a trial date was set, Clayton pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children between December 2013 and November 2019: 51 of Category A; 57 of Category B; and 448 of Category C.

He denied possessing four extreme pornographic images between July 24, 2016 and August 28, 2019, and of possessing 66 prohibited images of children between August 28, 2019 and November 3, 2019.

Clayton was unrepresented due to ongoing barrister strikes. Despite being given an opportunity to consult with his solicitor about a pre-sentencing report, he decided to proceed with sentencing.

In sentencing, Judge Susan Evans said Clayton’s denial of the offences delayed the case considerably.

The judge continued: “It is awful that there were images of children as young as four years and upwards. These are real children who are suffering real abuse. They suffer serious psychological and physical injuries. People like you are a market for it.”

Judge Evans, however, acknowledged that Clayton seemed motivated to change after demonstrating remorse. Having lost his previous job because of the case, he has started working again.

The judge said that Clayton is making an effort to change his lifestyle by staying away from substances.

Clayton was handed a 24-month community order, fined £1,500, and placed under a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

He must also complete 30 days of rehabilitation and 120 hours of unpaid work.