Ipswich man Michael Banham sentenced for indecent images

Sentencing 39-year-old Michael Banham at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Emma Peters said it was the second time he had appeared before a court for possessing indecent images and videos of children which she described as “a real evil in society”.

“The only way such images and videos can be made is by children being subjected to actual abuse,” said the judge.

She said the “vile” images featured young children and some involved dogs and cats.

“The possession of images and videos like this fuel the trade in the abuse which literally destroys children’s lives, both physically and mentally,” said the judge.

Banham, of Kenyon Street, Ipswich, admitted three offences of possessing indecent images and videos of children and one offence of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Banham was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court (Image: Suffolk police)

The court was told that, in addition to the images of children, there were 18 extreme pornographic images and one video.

In addition to being jailed, Banham was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for the same period.

The court heard that in 2018 Banham was jailed for 16 months for downloading indecent images of children.

Charles Judge, prosecuting, said that in 2022 Banham was arrested for an unrelated matter and his mobile phone was seized.

When it was analysed indecent images and videos were found on it and when Banham was questioned about them he said : “I don’t know how they got there. I’m just going to say it was me and I did it."

The court heard that Banham led an isolated and lonely life and spent most of his time alone in his flat.