(Image: T&A Camera Club)
A man who made indecent images of children will have to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.
Elliot Williams, 33, of Century Street, Keighley, is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for the same period.
Bradford Crown Court heard how, on or before June 1, 2023, Williams was found with 174 indecent images of children in categories A, B, and C, with category A being the most serious.
On the same date, he also assaulted a police officer.
Taking note of Williams’ lack of previous convictions and his realistic prospect of rehabilitation, Her Honour Judge Sophie McKone opted not to send him into immediate custody.
She told Williams: "If you were to be sent to custody immediately, the work that clearly needs to be done with you to stop you having this very, very worrying and unhealthy attitude towards children simply could not be done.
"It can really only be done in the community, and I have to think about risk to the public in the future.
"In my view, the best way to reduce any risk that you pose to children is best managed and best dealt with in the community."
Williams, who was convicted after a trial, was handed a total of 18 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.
Both his notification requirements on the sex offender register and the SHPO will last for ten years.
In addition, he must complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community and take part in 16 rehabilitation activity requirement days involving one-to-one work to address the issues raised by his offending.
Judge McKone ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the device on which the images were found.
Williams was ordered to pay the victim surcharge.