Man sentenced for making indecent images of children while staying in Salisbury

Thursday, 25 April 2024 01:00

A man has been sentenced to 44 months in prison for making and producing indecent images of children whilst staying in Salisbury.

Michael Ashburn, 31, of Wellington Road, Lozells and East Handsworth, Birmingham, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday (23/04).

The offences relate to incidents in February and March 2022, where indecent images of children were found on Ashburn's phone.

When officers arrested Ashburn on November 16, 2022, he spat in an officer's face and was imprisoned for one week for assaulting an emergency worker.

Ashburn was also charged with engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Michael Ashburn

He was sentenced to 44 months imprisonment, 20 years Sexual Harm Prevention Order, was put on the Sex Offenders register for life.

Detective Constable Julia Vince, from the Child Internet Exploitation Team said: "Ashburn went to great lengths to seek out, create and share the most abhorrent images of children.

"He is a devious and manipulative individual, who hid his activities from those closest to him. Every child that appeared in those images is a victim of sexual violence and the trauma caused cannot be underestimated.

“Ashburn is now behind bars where he can cause no further harm, and will be subject to a 20 years Sexual Harm Prevention Order and the Sex Offenders register for life which will severely limit his ability to re-offend once released."

Dc Vince added “The Wiltshire Police Child Internet Exploitation Team are dedicated to identify and bring to justice those who seek to harm children through their online activities for their own sexual gratification.”

If you are a victim of child abuse, or worried for the safety or well-being of a child, find out below all the different ways you can get in touch. Even if you’re not 100 per cent sure, please report your concerns. Your information could help our trained officers and staff protect the child. You can find information here: How to report possible child abuse | Wiltshire Police

You can also formally ask the police whether someone who has contact with a child or children has a record for child sexual offences or poses a risk to the child or children for some other reason.

It's not a law, but it is sometimes called 'Sarah's Law'. You can find more information here: Ask the police for information about child sexual offences | Wiltshire Police

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