October 2011

Prison for man, 20, who distributed child porn

A BNP councillor who downloaded and distributed child pornography on the internet has been jailed for 16 months.

Gavin Leist (20), of Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough, admitted three counts of possessing indecent images and three of distributing them, between 2008 and 2010.

He stood for the BNP at Leicestershire County Council elections in 2009 for Loughborough North West, which covers Thorpe Acre and Garendon Park. He gained 281 votes, but was knocked out by Labour [and finished last by miles].

James Varley, prosecuting, said police arrested the defendant at a hotel where he was working and living after discovering he had joined an online paedophile network.

His computer was seized and illegal images were found.

In interview he accepted he had, through file-sharing websites, incited people to send him pictures.

He was found in possession of 68 images at level one, 11 images at level two, and eight images at level four. He distributed six images at level four.

The national scale of seriousness has five levels, with five being the most serious.

All the indecent pictures on Leist’s computer featured boys under the age of 13.

Gareth Weetman, in mitigation, told Leicester Crown Court the offences were committed when Leist was aged between 16 and 18.

He said: “He was an immature young man grappling with his sexuality when the offences took place.

“He now has a high level of remorse. He acknowledges what he did was wrong and that he needs help. He’s told his parents and his friends that he’s done wrong.”

Mr Weetman said Leist had lost his job with a hotel chain.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Pert said: “You’ve crossed a significant line by not only accessing material forbidden by law that involves the exploitation of young people but you’ve also distributed it.”