Breaking news: Man who had over 3,000 indecent images of children walks free from court

Lawrence Henderson of Kilwilke Road, Lurgan, was put on probation for three years today (Thursday) at Craigavon Crown Court on child pornography charges.

He had pleaded guilty to 26 charges of making an indecent photograph of a child and one charge of having in his possession 3354 indecent photographs of children.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

The court heard the offences came to light when Henderson brought his computer to a shop in Lurgan to have it repaired.

Staff discovered pornographic images and contacted police. Henderson was arrested when he returned to collect the computer.

There were 208 category one pictures and four category two pictures on the computer.

An external hard drive was discovered in a search of his home and this contained 3,347 category one pictures and one category two photograph.

Henderson admitted to police that he had pornography on his computer but claimed the girls were aged over 18.

A prosecutor who had viewed the photographs said the maximum age of the girls would have been 12 to 13.

Judge Patrick Lynch told Henderson he had brought shame upon himself and his family.

When asked if he agreed to the probation order and it conditions Henderson replied: “Yes, no problem at all.”