An overseas worker was arrested as he walked through the arrivals gate at Newcastle Airport after police uncovered sick child abuse images on his devices.
Michael Robinson just stepped off a long haul flight from the UAE and was heading home to Northumberland when he was met at the airport by officers who seized his devices and took him in to custody for questioning.
The 47-year-old oil and gas worker had been accessing indecent images and videos of children unaware that law enforcement servers had picked up on his illicit activity.
When detectives searched his devices, which included a hard drive and memory stick, they found more than 700 indecent images – 145 of which were categorised as the most serious.
Robinson, of Mart Field, Rothbury appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 14) where he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years after admitting three counts of making indecent images of children.
He will also be placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for 10 years and is subject to a Sexual harm Prevention Order with strict prohibitions for 10 years.
Speaking after the sentencing Detective Constable Fiona Evans from Northumbria Police said: “Protecting the vulnerable from abuse is our number one priority and we will continue to pursue those who put children at risk of harm, and bring them before the courts.
“Robinson will be carefully monitored and will remain in close contact with our officers to ensure he does not pose any risk to the public.”
