A CO Antrim pensioner apologised today and appealed to others not to download images of child sex abuse from the internet.
Paul Hackney, (71), from Gobbins Road, Islandmagee, near Larne, was speaking outside Antrim Crown Court where he was freed on three years probation.
Hackney, who described himself as the "DIY man" in a guesthouse which he runs with his wife, acknowledged and echoed what Judge Gordon Kerr QC had told him in court, that such offending "is not a victimless crime".
Earlier Judge Kerr had pointed out that "for pictures like these to exist, some child, somewhere, had to be abused".
The pensioner, described as having "a considerable interest in the arts", said he was "heartily sorry" for having downloaded nearly 300 images of child sex abuse from the internet, adding "it is not a victimless crime", and urged others "not to do as I did".
Prosecuting barrister Tessa Kitson had told the court that on June 5 last year police carried out a planned search of Hackney's home under a protection of children order. They were investigating claims that an internet account at the address was used to access indecent images of children.
Hackney, who admitted a total of 16 charges of making indecent images of children, was asked by police if he had any knowledge of such images. Mrs Kitson said that in reply, Hackney said: "I have looked at what would be technically illegal".
Defence lawyer John McCrudden QC said the vast majority of the images involved the lower catagory one, and there was no question of him having any contact with the children.
He added that Hackney had nothing to do with either targetting or preying on children. Mr McCrudden said Hackney had been married for 42 years and his wife went everywhere with him. The lawyer also successfully saved Hackney, whom he described as a "person with considerable interests in the arts", from being barred from going to schools.
However, Judge Kerr, who placed Hackney on the children's barring list, also made him subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which will run for eight year, in addition to his three years probation.
