Plymouth child sex attacker searched for "paedo porn"

A MAN who sexually assaulted a girl and searched for 'paedo porn' on the internet has been spared jail.

Paul Joslin was sentenced to a three-year community order with supervision and ordered to attend a sex offenders group work programme, when he appeared at Plymouth Crown Court on Friday.

The 40-year-old, who admitted 11 charges, will also be on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and has been ordered to pay £300 in costs.

The court heard how following the sexual assault on a girl on 29 October 2009, police found hundreds of indecent images and a handful of movies on Joslin's computer.

Fathers Day Lunch

Dolphin House Brazzerie

View details

Print voucher

Pre book your Fathers Day Lunch and Receive a Complimentary Beer for "dad". 2 Courses for £13.50 or 3 Courses for £16. A Choice of our Fantastic Roast Dinners and a Choice of Starter and Desserts.

Terms: Only 2 people per voucher. 12pm-3pm.

Contact: 01752 254879

Valid until: Monday, June 10 2013

The images ranged from Levels 1 to 4, on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the most depraved.

Joslin, of Stanlake Terrace, St Judes, admitted eight counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Initially Joslin denied the assault to police but admitted it when the case went to court.

Judge Paul Darlow said: "Contrary to what he had told the police the search terms on his computer were indicative of the type of material he had hoped to find like 'paeodo porn'.

"I accept that the assault was spontaneous and there was no trial preparation."

But Judge Darlow warned of the possibility of a nine-month prison sentence if the order is broken.

Judge Darlow added: "Understand what is behind this order.

"People who are sent to prison for offences such as these tend to spend a lot of time alone and in solitary confinement."