A Gateshead paedophile who shared sickening child abuse images online has dodged jail.
Loner Ryan Handleigh distributed indecent pictures of children and was found with a stash of abuse images, including extreme pornography involving animals. After the 28-year-old was caught by police, he was bailed, but went on to commit further offences involving indecent images.
Last week, Handleigh, of Sunderland Road, Gateshead, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he was sentenced for two offences of distributing indecent images, six offences of making indecent images, and two offences of possessing extreme pornography involving animals. He had pleaded guilty to the serious charges, which were committed between 2021 and 2023.
Susannah Proctor, prosecuting, said Handleigh sourced indecent images from the dark web and distributed one category A indecent image on Instagram. He had also shared two category C images online.
The police then received referrals from Twitter and Instagram about the distribution of indecent images linked to Handleigh. Officers went to his Gateshead home and he was found in possession of 134 category A images, 85 category B images, and 262 category C images. He was also in possession of extreme pornography.
The court heard Handleigh was then bailed by police, but went on to commit further offences and was caught with more indecent material involving children and animals. Ms Proctor said when Handleigh was interviewed by police, he was “candid” about his offending.
Susan Hirst, defending, said Handleigh was of previous good character and entered early guilty pleas. She said: “He accepted he must have a sexual interest in children and was accessing out of curiosity.”
Ms Hirst said Handleigh had developed an addiction to adult pornography and accessed indecent images “whilst under the influence of substances”. She added: “He leads a very isolated life. He only has one friend he sees regularly and was bullied in school, leading to self-harm.” The court heard that Handleigh has never been in employment and is currently on benefits.
Sentencing him, Judge Robert Adams said: “Police received a referral from Twitter, linked to you. In October 2022, there was a referral from Instagram [relating] to a category A image being distributed.
“There was a police search and seizures were made. You were interviewed in February 2023 and made full admissions. While on bail you committed further offences and were interviewed in December 2024 and made no comment.”
Handleigh was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years and was ordered to undertake a sex offender treatment programme and a mental health treatment programme. He will be on the sex offender register for 10 years and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed.
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