A father who kept 'horrific' child sex abuse films on his computer was spared jail after a judge said he showed ‘remorse’.
Harefield Hospital night porter William Gostelow, 40, of Woodfield Terrace, Harefield, searched online for ‘most sexually explicit films of children’, ‘banned films of child sex’ and ‘notorious child sex films’, but walked free from Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, December 4.
During a police raid in March, a ‘sickening stash’ of 19 films, some depicting child rape and bondage, were found.
Gostelow told officers: "I don’t know if I need help over this."
Most of the films contained level four images – the second worst on the depravity scale.
Judge Anthony Pitts called him ‘a hard-working family man’ and said it was ‘disappointing’ to find him before court. He said it was difficult to believe someone of his public character could have developed such an interest.
“I can’t imagine the impact it must have had on your mother and your wife to find the man and son they loved is addicted to looking at this horrific material,” said Mr Pitts. “The offences you have committed undoubtedly cross the custody threshold. But in my judgment you have demonstrated remorse and a determination to put this behind you, with help.”
Gostelow admitted seven counts of making indecent images of children and received a nine month sentence, suspended for two years. He showed no emotion, while relatives in the public gallery wept.
He will be supervised for a year, must take part in rehabilitation projects and was given a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, restricting his internet use and access to children aged under 16.
He signed the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.
