Sex Assault And Child Sex Images

9 November 2012, 16:29 | Updated: 9 November 2012, 16:34

A wheelchair-bound Hemel Hempstead man who sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl was found to have over 300 indecent images of children when the police examined his computers.

Anthony Styles, 46, was sentenced to a 3 year Community Order today/Friday in which he will be supervised by probation officers and must attend the programme Thames Valley Sex Offender Programme.

Simon Stirling, prosecuting at St Albans crown court, said Styles took advantage of the teenager when she was upset just after Christmas 2010. He said: "The defendant sought to comfort her and put his right hand on her chest and under her bra". He also tried to kiss her and grab her.

Then on 23 January last year the same victim and her boyfriend found indecent images of children on Styles' laptop. "She felt considerable alarm and distress and was in shock and was tearful, " said Mr Stirling.

At that point the police were called and Styles was questioned about the sex assault and having the images.

His computer and laptop were examined and the police found a total of 307 images. 306 were at Level 1, the least serious of five levels. The other was at Level 2.

Styles, of Manan Close, Hemel appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to sexual assault and possessing indecent images of children at earlier hearings.

Defence barrister Will Noble said that Styles suffered from medical problems.

Judge Stephen Warner told Styles: "You assaulted the victim when she was particularly vulnerable and distressed." He went on to say: "The images may not be the most serious but as with all indecent images of children they involved the exploitation and abuse of young children for the gratification of people like you, who provide the market for this sort of material."

The judge sentence to a 3 year Community Order in which he will be supervised by probation officers and must attend the sex offender programme. Styles will have to register as a Sex Offender for 5 years and must abide by a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which includes a ban on him working with children and looking at pornography over the internet.