Animal porn pervert freed after judge admits he won't get help

Peter Westhead had been kept on remand since last month after he admitted six counts of downloading and distributing some of the most gruesome image and videos imaginable.

However, appearing via videolink at Nottingham Crown Court today, the 60-year-old was told by Judge Stuart Rafferty QC that if he handed him a jail sentence, there was little hope of him being helped.

Addressing the court, Judge Rafferty said: “He has had a taste of custody and he needs treatment.

“If he remains in custody the length of sentence I can impose would ensure he did not get the treatment he needs.

“For those reasons and those reasons only, there will be a community order.

“He has co-operated fully with probation and he accepts he did wrong.”

As part of Operation Stagger, Metropolitan Police officers executed a warrant to search Westhead’s home on Underwood Avenue, Retford, in July last year where they found more than 113 images on his phone, and two videos.

They ranged from category C up to category A - the most extreme in nature - while police also found three images of a person engaging in sexual activity with an animal.

They had been sent by text message and Westhead had sent them on to another offender, even adding the tag line to one image: ‘Morning perv. Enjoy LOL (laugh out loud)’.

Westhead had been held on remand at HMP Nottingham since February 17.

Addressing Westhead today, Judge Rafferty said: “I remanded you in custody last time so you can see what the future could hold for you if you commit another offence of this kind.

“I take it has been extremely unpleasant and I hope every minute of it has been misery for you.

“I hope you now realise just how serious you what you got yourself into.

“Since losing your leg you have been living an isolated life and maybe that brought you to the internet.

“Children were the last thing in your mind, but they became the first on your mind.

“You undoubtedly became involved with a group of people of like-minded people and images were exchanged.

“You accept you got sexual gratification from those images.

“People in your position often pretend that because they are just looking at photographs tat these people are not real. They are.

“You pretend, and others like you, that those children want to take part in what is happening, they do not. Their lives are damaged and in some cases, forever.

“You encourage people to do that, and you went a step further by distributing them to other people.”

He handed a Westhead a two-year community order with a rehabilitation requirement, told him he must take part in the internet sex offenders’ treatment programme, and sign the sex offenders’ register for the next five years.

He also warned him over his future conduct.

“If you breach the order you will come back before me and no other judge,” he told him.

“I will remember you and what I said to you and we both know what will happen - you will be back inside for years.”