TV Comedian Tom Binns spared jail despite possession of over 35,000 child abuse images

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Renowned for his appearances on Channel 4’s «8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown,» TV comedian Christopher Thomas Binns, popularly known as Tom Binns, has evaded imprisonment after being discovered with a staggering collection of more than 35,000 indecent images of children.

Having pleaded guilty in November last year, Binns faced five counts of producing indecent images of children and one count of possessing a prohibited image. In Derby Crown Court, the 53-year-old's case unfolded, revealing his possession of numerous inappropriate images spread across multiple devices. Despite the gravity of the charges, Binns, who boasts a clean criminal record, was handed a suspended sentence by Judge Shaun Smith KC on Thursday.

During the proceedings, prosecutor Lauren Fisher outlined the distressing inventory: 104 images categorized as the most serious (Category A), 411 under Category B, and a staggering 34,946 images under Category C. In addition, three prohibited images surfaced alongside a multitude of moving images falling within Categories B and C. However, Judge Smith cautioned about the potential duplication of certain images. Fisher explained that the images were acquired between March 26 and November 21, 2020.

Binns, recognized for his persona as hospital radio DJ Ivan Brackenbury, achieved acclaim by earning a nomination at the Edinburgh Festival for the Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2007. His talents have also graced the small screen, featuring in BBC drama «Spooks» and Channel 4's «IT Crowd.»

The legal predicament started with Binns' arrest at his residence in Calow, Derbyshire. The subsequent seizure of 39