AN offender who was found in possession of a vile child abuse video has walked free from court.

Steven Harper was caught with the disgusting material earlier last year.

The 59-year-old was subsequently charged with possessing an indecent photograph of a child, and he appeared to be sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, November 22.

But the prospect of him turning his life around saw him avoid an immediate prison sentence.

Lionel Cope, prosecuting, explained how the video was graded as category A, which is the most severe rating involving child rape.

According to the charge sheet, it was in Harper’s possession between April 2017 and January 2021.

Before sentencing, district judge John McGarva said that the offence was ‘so serious’ that only a custodial sentence could be justified.

However, taking the defendant’s guilty plea into account, he said that the sentence could be suspended.

This was due to him demonstrating a ‘realistic prospect of rehabilitation’ through him recognising that he has a problem and self-referring himself for therapy.

Harper, of Princess Road in Lymm, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to abide by sex offender notification and registration requirement with police for seven years.

In addition, he must pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £154.