By Lucy Caulkett-
A man of previous good character caught uploading category A indecent images of children on Facebook has escaped jail because he pleaded guilty and was of good character before he was caught.
Abid Hussein character was always awful, but he had never been caught.
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He initially lied to police that he shared them out of moral outrage but was forced to plead guilty as evidence against him mounted.
Hussain, 44, pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court to three single offences of making an indecent image of a child, at category A, B and C, and a charge of distribution of a category A image.
Prosecutor Paul Canfield said there were a total of eight category A images and three each at categories B and C. The offences took place between January 17 and December 26, 2020.
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West Yorkshire Police were alerted to the fact that Hussain had distributed the image on Facebook on March 9, 2020.
It was accepted that he had distributed a second category A image on July 11 that year, also via Facebook, although that had not been charged.
He was arrested on February 4 last year and his two phones seized.
Hussain initially made no comment when questioned by the police and then stated that he shared the images ‘out of moral outrage.’
He said his Facebook account had been closed down because he had ‘done something wrong.’
Mitigating for him, barrister, James Gelsthorpe, told the court: “A good reputation is hard won and easily lost.”
His client was a man of previous good character who had led a hardworking, pious and decent life.
“He has left that life in tatters,” Mr Gelsthorpe stated.
Recorder Simon Jackson KC said Hussain had pleaded guilty to the offences at the first opportunity. “You have been, until the magistrates’, a hardworking family man and you have now lost that good reputation,” he said.
He was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He must obey a three-month curfew that will be electronically monitored.
Recorder Jackson made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and Hussain must sign on as a sex offender, also for ten years.
“You owe a debt to society and a debt to your wife and family. Do not fail them or you are likely to go to prison,” he said.
West Yorkshire Police declined to release his photograph as part of their policy because Mr. Hussein was not jailed
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