Joseph Sullivan – Cornwall

A paedophile found with images and videos of ponys being sexually abused and hundreds of indecent images of children also kept a 170-page “manual” on how to abuse children, a court has heard.

Joseph Sullivan, 41, was found with folders on his device containing the disturbing material after police raided his home on October 17 last year.

Sullivan, of Gunnislake, Cornwall, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Thursday (October 30) having pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs of a child including 305 Category A (186 still images, and 119 moving images); possessing a prohibited image of a child; possessing an extreme pornographic image involving intercourse with a Pony, and possessing a 170-page paedophile manual.

Prosecuting the case, Ramsay Quaife, said that on October 17 last year, officers “seized a phone from under his bed that was examined”. He noted that among the material found was 305 category A images, 119 being movies.

He added that as far as counts three and four were concerned, Sullivan was found with extreme pornography involving a pony as well as a 170-page paedophile manual which was “saved as a PDF” document.

Mr Quaife explained: “It is a manual for paedophiles and contains advice and guidance on sexually abusing children.”

Sentencing, Judge Carr said he had never in all his 40 years of practice come across someone in possession of a paedophile manual.

He said Sullivan, who was previously cautioned in 2023 after being caught with indecent images of children, has a “clear and entrenched sexual interest in children, that does not bode well” for his rehabilitation.

The judge told Sullivan: “In 2023 you were caught in possession of indecent images of children. Because of the low number you were given a caution. If anything should have been a wake up call that was it.”

He added: “You went completely the other way.”

Of the paedophile manual, the judge said: “In the 40 years I’ve sat it is the first time I have seen one held by someone.

“It is 170 pages long and tells you how to go about and get away with abuse of children. It didn’t just appear in your folder. It was something you deliberately downloaded.”

“Over a period of time you have downloaded a very high number of images, many of them category A involving young children.”

He went on to tell the court rehabilitation “is not at present a realistic possibility” and “only a custodial sentence is appropriate”.

Sullivan was jailed for a total of 15 months and handed a sexual harm prevention order of 10 years. He will be on the sexual offences register for the next 10 years.