Carrickfergus Man Spared Jail After Admitting to Over 1,000 Indecent Images of Children

A 66-year-old man from Carrickfergus who admitted to possessing more than 1,000 indecent images of children has avoided jail.

Robert Petrie, of Brackenridge Green, was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court to eight months in prison, suspended for three years. He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and will be subject to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Police discovered 1,071 indecent images after searching Petrie’s home in March 2021. Forensic examination of his devices revealed that 90 of the images were classified in the most serious category.

Petrie pleaded guilty to nine charges of making indecent images of children between September 2018 and March 2021. During police interviews, he made full admissions, expressed remorse, and told a probation officer he was sexually attracted to children but claimed he had never committed contact offences.

Judge Patricia Smyth noted Petrie’s previous clean record, his health conditions including MS and Parkinson’s disease, and his cooperation with authorities. However, she criticised his “complete lack of awareness” of the harm caused by his actions.

Warning Petrie that any further offences would result in immediate imprisonment, Judge Smyth said the suspended sentence should not be viewed as leniency, but a final opportunity.