Former Durham lecturer will not be jailed for possession of child porn

Former Durham University lecturer Dr Jeremy Richard Allington-Smith covertly filmed hundreds of women and downloaded a number of images of children being subjected to sexual abuse.

Instead of a jail sentence, he was given a community order after it was argued that he had developed hypersexuality along with obsessive behaviour and an inability to control impulses whilst taking medication for Parkinson’s disease.

Following a police search of the astrophysicist’s home and university office, thousands of downloaded child porn images and hand drawn child abuse scenes were found.

The prosecutor, Harry Hadfield, told Durham Crown Court that 360 ‘clandestinely’ filmed clips, which showed women in short skirts and shorts around Durham’s city centre, were found on a laptop owned by Allington-Smith.

Judge Christopher Prince said “It’s important the public realises why a man who has committed offences for which they would expect him to go directly to prison, isn’t going to go to prison today”.

He said respected physicians had confirmed the possible side-effects which the medication taken by Allington-Smith could cause. He continued to say that repetition of this offending behaviour could be prevented through careful monitoring.

Allington-Smith, who resigned from his position at Durham University when his offences were brought to light, has been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be registered as a sex offender for five years.

Information sourced from The Telegraph.