Child porn caseman walks free

A 32-year-old Lurgan man who had over 3,000 indecent photographs of children on his computer was told he had brought shame on himself and his family.
Lawrence HendersonLawrence Henderson
Lawrence Henderson

Lawrence Henderson, Kilwilke Road, Lurgan, pleaded guilty to 26 charges of making an indecent photograph of a child and one charge of having in his possession 3,354 indecent photographs of children.

He was sentenced last Thursday at Craigavon Crown Court. He was put on probation for three years and also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Henderson admitted to police that he had pornography on his computer but claimed the girls were aged over 18. There were a number of web searches which were indicative of seeking out child pornography.

Henderson had no previous convictions.

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

She said that within the sentencing guidelines a community disposal may be appropriate.

A barrister for Henderson said the case fell quite neatly within the guidelines. The defendant had no record and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity on arraignment.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added that Henderson had some difficulties in his background but accepted what he did was wrong in law and morally wrong.

The barrister described the accused as a loner with a reclusive lifestyle. There was no third party involved it was very much the defendant and his computer.

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.”

The judge told him he should co-operate with the probation service for the next three years and not get involved in this sort of behaviour again.