A 68-year-old Darlington man has been spared an immediate prison sentence after being found guilty of possessing nearly 200 indecent images of children.
Clive Marchant was convicted in September following a trial at Teesside Crown Court. On Tuesday, he received a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years, along with strict conditions including the use of an electronic tag.
Cleveland Police acted on intelligence from concerned members of the public, leading to a search of Marchant's electronic devices. Officers discovered 193 indecent images of minors, some of which were classified under the most severe category.
Detective Constable Natasha Vaughan of Cleveland Police's child abuse unit welcomed the sentence, stating it sends a stern message that those involved in such activity can expect to be brought before the courts. Chief Inspector Deb Fenny added that the force will always take immediate action on concerns regarding indecent images of children.
