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Man blamed net virus for child porn
Jan 22 2005
A man found with more than 1,700 indecent images of children on his computer claimed a virus was to blame, a court heard.
But Mark Craney, 33, from Knowle, was found guilty at Warwick Crown Court on 16 charges of making indecent images of children by downloading them onto his computer.
Mark Heywood, prosecuting, said Craney was arrested at his home in Mockley Wood Road where he lives with his long-term partner and his equipment was seized.
It contained a large number of indecent images of children.
Craney admitted there were images of children on his computer, but claimed: "I have got a virus from Broadband."
Mr Heywood said there were a total of 1,793 images, of which 930 showed children nude or in erotic poses, and a further 171 showed children in sexual acts.
But 660 were of levels three and four, the most serious kind of porn involving adults and children.
There were also 24 of level five which involved sadism, and one picture which was included in the charges showed a very young girl "in obvious pain and distress".
Mr Heywood said there was no argument over the fact that the images were stored on Craney's computer but the real issue was whether they were put there maliciously.
Craney did not give evidence during the trial, but Mr Heywood told the jury: "It is his case that he finds them just as disturbing as anyone else, and made efforts to remove ones."
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Craney, who was granted bail.
