THE number of paedophiles jailed for hoarding sick images is falling and hit its lowest rate last year, official figures say.
Only 17 per cent of the 3,220 found, or who pleaded, guilty were caged — less than half the rate in 2010.
AFPHuw Edwards was given a suspended sentence in September after he admitted receiving 41 indecent images, including two videos of a young boy[/caption]
Jacob Chouffot, a teacher who had 1,000 Category A videos was also spared jailKevin Dunnett
The rest of the 2024 total, the second most since records began 15 years ago, got a community or suspended sentence, including BBC ex-anchor Huw Edwards.
Just five of the most serious offenders were given extended jail terms of up to 10 years.
Edwards, 63, who admitted receiving 41 images, including two videos of young boy, got suspended jail in September.
His WhatsApp images included seven in Category A – the most severe kind.
It came a year after he was suspended when The Sun revealed he paid £35,000 to a teenager for naked photos.
Others spared jail were Ralph Harrington, 58, who downloaded 362,500 child abuse images and teacher Jacob Chouffot, 26, who had 1,000 Category A videos.
The Sun’s Keep Our Kids Safe campaign has demanded anyone convicted of possessing Category A images serves time in prison.
It was backed by National Crime Agency chief Graeme Biggar, abuse survivors and child sexual exploitation charities.
Ex-Met detective Peter Bleksley said: “These astonishing figures show that as the problem escalates, the punishment diminishes.
“More and more of these vile paedophiles are accessing, creating and distributing these images, thereby creating more and more victims.”
The Ministry of Justice said: “Sentences are decided by independent judges.”
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