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Saturday 26 October 2019

Passport Office Worker Convicted of Child and Extreme Pornography Offences



James Close, 36, of Central Parade, Shildon, County Durham, admitted stealing the photographs of 30 children when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 24th October 2019.

He also admitted three counts of making indecent images of a child between April 2014 and January 2019, one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child between August 2018 and January 2019 and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals between October 2018 and January 2019.

Prosecutor Oriana Frame told the court: "There had been some intelligence as to a specific IP address and a Magistrates' warrant was executed at the defendant's address where a number of devices were seized from his bedroom.

"There were around 30 passport photos found in the defendant's possession.

"The defendant was working for Her Majesty's Passport Office in Durham and confirmed that all of the pictures had been printed in a printing laboratory where the defendant worked."


Examination of the seized devices yielded more than 1,000 indecent images of children, of which 107 in Category A. Category A images are the most serious, typically depicting penetrative sexual activity with or between children. Police also found 99 videos and two images showing extreme pornography involving horses, donkeys and dogs.

Callum Terry, representing Close, told the court: "I would suggest all matters are linked and should go to Crown Court."

Magistrates agreed and sent the matters to Durham Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, 22nd November 2019.

Close was released on unconditional bail until that date.

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